THE CELTIC CONNECTION » DECEMBER 1996/JANUARY 1997
Page 5
THE STONE OF DESTINY
Will we Ever Know the Truth?
By JOHN DAVIDSON
The Stone of Destiny, or as it is sometimes called the Stone of Scone — for reasons that will become apparent, is a block of sandstone which measures 26 inches long, 16 inches wide, 11 inches high and weighs 336 pounds or 152 kilograms.
Yet, this unassuming block of stone has been revered for centuries as a holy relic, fought over by nations and used successively by Dalriadic, Scottish, English and British monarchs as an important part of their enthronement ceremonies.
The stone allegedly originates from the Middle East and was brought to Scotland around 850 AD. Its history, however, stretches back to biblical times when Jacob is said to have used the stone as a pillow. The stone was then shipped through Egypt, Sicily, Spain and Ireland before, as said, arriving in Scotland.
A more specific explanation, which supports the Middle East origins of the stone, hails from the ancient Irish Kingdom of Dalriada, which existed from around 400 AD to about 850 AD.
Dalriadic kings were enthroned at sacred ceremonies in which an enthroning stone, which had been blessed by Saint Patrick, was used. The stone embodied Saint Patrick's message in that, wherever the stone lay, the race of Ere should reign. Hence, the stone's title — Stone of Destiny.
Ere was the first king of the Antrim Dal Riata tribe located in
Ireland. After many years and battles with the Picts, Britons and Saxons alongside others, Kenneth I, thirty-sixth King of Dalriada, moved his seat to Scotland. He moved it, in fact, to Scone, in Perthshire.
The stone was used at Iona, Dunadd, Dunstaffnage and Scone for enthroning Dalriadic monarchs. In 1292, John Balliol became the last king to use the stone in Scotland, as it was removed by Edward I of England in 1296, taken south and placed in Westminster Abbey. Edward believed, mistakenly, that possession of the stone gave him sovereignty of Scotland.
On Christmas Day 1950, the stone was taken from Westminster Abbey by a group of Scottish Nationalists and subse-
quently went "missing." It was found," about four months later, having been placed in Arbroath Abbey and returned to Westminster.
It is strongly rumoured that the stone was never "missing" — at least not from those who know — and was never truly "found." The Scots who took the stone from Westminster had a replica made, which it was estimated to take about four months, and placed the replica in Arbroath.
The replica was then "re-taken" and placed in Westminster Abbey. Therefore, it is in fact the real stone which is now on display, as a purported replica, at Scone Palace, the stone's right and proper home. But that, of course, is only a rumour.
— Highlander Magazine
CELEBRATING HOGMANAY
Hogmanay is the Scottish New Year's festival that commemorates the solar divinity Hogmagog. The traditional Hogmanay ceremonies involved dressing in the hides of cattle and running around the village, being hit by sticks.
Hogmanay festivities included the lighting of bonfires, rolling blazing tar barrels, and tossing blazing torches. In former times, animalhide was wrapped around sticks and ignited, producing a smoke that was said to be very effective against evil sprites. This talismanic smoking stick was itself known as a Hogmanay.
Hogmanay has its own customary goods: bannocks, oarsmen, shortbread, black buns and ankersocks (gingerbread loaves made with rye meal). It is hoped that the Picts amongst us will celebrate our splendid cultural inheritance to the fullest extent possible.
The Moray Nairn And Banff Scottish Association
(At the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson St.)
Enjoy a traditional Scottish New Year Dinner Dance 8 PM December 31 Join
Bobby Smith, Rob Stuart, Lorraine Smith and friends for
Dancing, Piping, Entertainment BEST BARGAIN IN TOWN!! ONLY $40 PER PERSON!
* DANCE TO THE PEPPERPOT * SCOTLAND'S MOST VERSATILE BAND ■ MUSIC FOR EVERY TASTE!
Brought from Scotland exclusively for the Moray Nairn and Banff Burns Suppers
FRIDAY JANUARY 17 at 8:30 PM A TASTE OF BURNS Tickets $15
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 7:30 PM OUR 66th ANNUAL BURNS SUPPER (Book Early and don't be dissappointed) Dinner and Dance Immortal Memory by Rob Stuart and Address to Haggis by Johnny Murdoch
Tickets and information from: 261-6686, 266-4405, 980-0950, or 985-1088
TICKETS NOT AVAILABLE AT SCOTTISH CULTURAL CENTRE
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