WELCOME TO AN ENTERTAINMENT SITE FOR SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCERS!
Enjoy this curated selection of theme-related dances for celebrations and holidays, or find a dance associated with a special calendar day, or EVEN your own birthday!
Jun 29
Fisherfolk Day
Silver Darlings
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
Go Fish and Reel It In, Dancers! 🎣🐟🐟🐟
The sea has always demanded both courage and respect, and Scottish fisherfolk developed countless superstitions to help ward off misfortune. Living at the mercy of the weather and the unforgiving ocean, they were keen observers of signs and omens, believing that careful attention to these traditions could help ensure a safe voyage home.
In Lerwick, it was considered unlucky to mention certain animals by name before setting sail. A pig was called only a "curly tail," while a rabbit became a "bob tail," "fower fitter," or "mappin." Even salmon were thought to bring ill luck and were referred to only as the "reid fish." On land, meeting a woman—or especially a minister—while on the way to fish was regarded as such an unfortunate omen that many fishermen would turn around, go home, and begin their journey all over again!
Among the most celebrated catches were the great shoals of herring, affectionately known as the "Silver Darlings." Their shimmering scales transformed the sea into a living carpet of silver, and the annual herring fisheries brought prosperity, hard work, and adventure to fishing communities throughout Scotland. These remarkable fish became so important to Scottish life that they inspired books, songs, and this 3 couple reel, for 4 fisher-couples by devisor Jean Atwood. Reel and swim with the Silver Darlings, Dancers! 🕺 💃 💙 💙 💙 🎣 🎣 🎣 🐟 🐟 🐟
Silver Darlings
For centuries, herring were a big part of life along Scotland’s coast. These bright, shimmering fish were so important that they became affectionately known as the “silver darlings.” When the herring arrived in great shoals, quiet fishing villages suddenly became busy places full of boats, barrels, nets, salt, and people hard at work. From the Highlands and Islands to the east coast ports, whole communities depended on the annual herring catch.
By the nineteenth century, Scotland had become one of Europe’s great herring-fishing centers. Fishermen sailed out in sturdy boats, often at night, setting long drift nets beneath the waves. In the morning, they hauled them back in, hoping the nets would be heavy with silver fish. It was hard, dangerous work, and the sea was not always kind. Storms, cold, darkness, and rough water were all part of the life.
The story of herring fishing was not only about the men at sea. On shore, the famous “herring girls” followed the fishing season from port to port, gutting, salting, and packing the fish into barrels with amazing speed and skill. Their work was essential, and their seasonal travels became part of the rhythm and character of Scottish fishing life.
The herring trade helped many Scottish ports grow and prosper. Places such as Lerwick, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Eyemouth, and Wick were shaped by the silver darlings. Harbors expanded, boatyards stayed busy, coopers made barrels, and the fish were shipped to markets across Britain and Europe. For a time, herring really did seem like treasure from the sea.
Of course, with dangerous work came a good many customs and superstitions. Fisherfolk had all sorts of ways to avoid bad luck before setting sail. Certain words were best not spoken, and some encounters on the way to the boat were considered unlucky enough to send a fisherman back home to begin the journey all over again. When your livelihood depended on the ocean, it probably seemed wise not to take any chances.
Although the great herring boom eventually faded, the legacy of Scotland’s silver darlings is still with us. It lives on in old harbors, fishing museums, traditional songs, local stories, and the memory of the hardworking communities who followed the shoals.
Believe it or not, the "Silver Darlings" now have their own tartan! Click the tartan below for more information!
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
