The Folklore of the Scottish Highlands

The folklore of the Scottish Highlands is unique and very much alive. Dr Anne Ross, a Gaelic-speaking Celtic scholar and archaeologist, has lived and worked in crofting communities, enabling her to collect information at first hand and to assess the veracity of material already published. She portrays the beliefs and customs of Scottish Gaelic society in the light of Celtic and more recent Scottish history, including: seasonal customs deriving from Celtic festivals; the famous waulking songs; the Highland tradition of seers and second sight; omens and taboos, both good and bad; chilling experiences of witchcraft and the Evil Eye; rituals associated with life and death. Dr Anne Ross, formerly Lecturer in the Extramural Department of the University of Southampton, where she taught Iron Age and general Celtic topics, now lives near Aberystwyth and teaches part time at the University. She is the author of several books including Roman Celtic Britain and of the Pagan Celts, as well as numerous papers and teaches part time.