The English word "cat" is very similar to the word used for our feline pets in other languages spoken in Europe and around the Mediterranean. The table below lists the word for cat and the language:

• Kat Dutch
• chat French
• Katze German
• gatta Greek
• kottur Icelandic
• gatto Italian
• qattus Maltean
• katt Norwegian
• kot Polish
• gato Spanish
• katt Swedish

Clearly "cat" is an ancient word that spread into many regions from a single source. The source appears to be Arabic because the oldest use of "cat" is in North Africa where the term is "quttah".

A few other terms relating to cats originate from the Mediterranean. One is the word "tabby", which is derived from the Turkish word "utabi". And the general word for a cat in Turkey is "kedi", which may be the ancestor term for the English word "kitty".

From the Cat Nips newsletter.

You can check out my new CD "Whiskers in the Jar: Irish Songs for Cat Lovers" for some great cat music.

From Doc Grauzer:

Hello all!

Thought I'd send out the word about a new music shop called "Fiddler's Green", which is at 1809 West 35th Street, pretty much across the street from Things Celtic. They just opened up on Monday, and I found them just today when I went to see Kimberly at work. So--a long-overdue folk-music shop that our musical city was sadly lacking! The folks running the store are from Memphis, and quite friendly and easy to talk to. They have a good range of entry-level instruments and supplies--nothing terribly high-dollar, but a great place for new players to begin. The place is definitely worth checking out. Here's a link to its website.

But best of all, there is definitely some music space in there. There's a fine room in the back which might be well-suited to a session. See what you might think about it. For those of us who remember the lamented Senor O'Brien's--this place has similar wooden floors, low ceilings and is only a few blocks from the old place on 34th Street! The shop staff is very interested in getting some sessions happening--be they bluegrass, old-timey or Celtic. Especially for the Irish musicians who might not get out to session much any more (self included!), this might be a comfortable place for us to gather again.

I don't have very many e-mail addresses for our local Celtic and old-timey players, but I'll ask all of you who get this to check the place out, and help me spread the word about it. I'm delighted that we have such a place now, and I want to do what I can to get it off to a good start. Go check it out!

--Doc


Beagán a rá agus é a rá go maith.
Say little but say it well.

http://www.docgrauzer.com
http://www.myspace.com/docgrauzer 

by Chris Cooper

Heres a story, a little bit gory, a little bit happy, a little bit sad
A long time ago, in a pub far away,
I sat on a barstool, just drinking away,

I had one pint of beer, and one shot of scotch
and I drank one to many shots with Darth Maul.

The next morning my head felt heavy which made me shake,
I Fell from a ladder and broke me skull, and they carried me home my corpse to wake.

I arose and had a million ducats, so I bought my lovely Lily the Pink a big coach, with all the pretty fringe on the top.

One day, riding in her coach, Lily was approached by a Dragon who invited her for lunch.
First he brought in tay and cake, then pipes, tobacco and brandy punch.

Someone heard the dragon exclaim:
Well, I'm really quite kind almost all through the year.
Vegetarian ways are now mine out of fear.
But a birthday needs sweets as I'm sure you'll agree.
And barbecued wench tastes like candy to me

as he gulped down Lily
Lily died and went up to heaven.
Oh, the church bells they did ring.

Twas about 12 o'clock and the beer was high
Lily sits up and says with a sigh
I can't get to heaven, they won't let me up
Til I bring them a quart of the Johnny Jump Up!

My friend Mike started a new website reviewing Celtic CDs. It's called Celtophilia. He and Bonnie give a his and her perspective on various Celtic albums with noble results.

Who hasn't bolted upright in the night, awakened by a sudden and terrible burning sensation in the pit of their stomach? Whether you indulged in some overly spicy chili, or overdid it on those late-night leftovers, these quick heartburn remedies will soothe your fiery stomach and help you get back to sleep!

1. The first thing you'll want to do when you're awakened by heartburn pain, is to stand up. This helps keep the acid at bay while you go and get a full glass of cool water.

2. Drink the whole glass of water, and follow it with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and half a glass of water. Be careful though, if you have high blood pressure or are pregnant, this can cause water retention or increase your blood pressure.

3. DON'T drink milk or suck on mints to relieve heartburn. Milk might feel nice and cool going down, but it actually contains fats and proteins that cause your stomach to secrete MORE acid and make your heartburn worse! Mints, while they may feel soothing, actually relax the small valve between your esophagus and stomach, whose purpose it is to actually KEEP acid at bay! When this valve is relaxed, more acid can seep up and aggravate heartburn symptoms!

4. This is going to sound strange, but downing a teaspoon of vinegar can help soothe heartburn immediately! Why give your stomach MORE acid when it already seems to have enough, you ask? Sometimes, heartburn is caused as a result of too little acid, and vinegar helps quell indigestion by giving your stomach a little extra "juice" (no pun intended!) to do its job!

5. Certain foods can cause nighttime heartburn, including: soda pop or beverages with caffeine (which you shouldn't be drinking before bed anyway!), alcohol, garlic, chocolate (sorry!), citrus fruits, tomatoes and tomato-based products. Avoiding these types of food can help ease your indigestion if you frequently find yourself awakened with that intolerable burning!

6. Eating a banana each day works like an antacid to soothe heartburn. If you're already stricken with indigestion, eating pineapple or papaya (or drinking the juice) can help settle your stomach naturally. Some people also claim that eating a teaspoon of mustard (yuck!) can work immediately.

7. Avoid eating at least two hours before you go to sleep. Those late night snacks can keep your stomach busy all night and prevent you from easing into a deep, restful sleep. You may also find that sleeping on your left side or sleeping at a somewhat upright angle can keep acid down where it belongs.

If you are awakened by heartburn on a regular basis, or the pain is severe, or if you have heartburn with vomiting, you'll want to consult your doctor immediately as it may be a sign of a more serious condition such as an ulcer. Above all, avoid spicy, fatty and caffeine-containing foods before bed, and you should be able to drift off to sleep easily.

Sweet dreams!

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Emily Clark writes articles on a wide range of health and lifestyle topics. She has an excellent selection of tips about wheel chair backs posted on her blog and if you need information on invacare wheel chairs then this is an article you should not miss.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emily_Clark

Ireland, like most countries, has a number of Christmas traditions that are all of its own. Many of these customs have their root in the time when the Gaelic culture and religion of the country were being supressed and it is perhaps because of that they have survived into modern times.

THE CANDLE IN THE WINDOW

The placing of a lighted candle in the window of a house on Christmas eve is still practised today. It has a number of purposes but primarily it was a symbol of welcome to Mary and Joseph as they travelled looking for shelter.

The candle also indicated a safe place for priests to perform mass as, during Penal Times this was not allowed.

A further element of the tradition is that the candle should be lit by the youngest member of the household and only be extinguished by a girl bearing the name 'Mary'.

THE LADEN TABLE

After evening meal on Christmas eve the kitchen table was again set and on it were placed a loaf of bread filled with caraway seeds and raisins, a pitcher of milk and a large lit candle. The door to the house was left unlatched so that Mary and Joseph, or any wandering traveller, could avail of the welcome.

THE WREN BOY PROCESSION

During Penal Times there was once a plot in a village against the local soldiers. They were surrounded and were about to be ambushed when a group of wrens pecked on their drums and awakened the soldiers. The plot failed and the wren became known as 'The Devil's bird'.

On St. Stephens day a procession takes place where a pole with a holly bush is carried from house to house and families dress up in old clothes and with blackened faces. In olden times an actual wren would be killed and placed on top of the pole.

This custom has to a large degree disappeared but the tradition of visiting from house to house on St. Stephens Day has survived and is very much part of Christmas.

DECORATIONS:

The placing of a ring of Holly on doors originated in Ireland as Holly was one of the main plants that flourished at Christmas time and which gave the poor ample means with which to decorate their dwellings.

All decorations are traditionally taken down on Little Christmas (January 6th.) and it is considered to be bad luck to take them down beforehand.

TRADITIONAL GAELIC SALUTATION

The Gaelic greeting for 'Merry Christmas' is:
'Nollaig Shona Duit'
......which is pronounced as 'null-ig hun-a dit'.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

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(C) Copyright The Information about Ireland Site, 2000
The Leader in Free Resources from Ireland
Free Irish coats of arms, screensavers, maps and more http://www.ireland-information.com

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And if you're looking for additional Celtic Christmas music, check out Christmas in Brobdingnag by the Brobdingnagian Bards or if you like Irish drinking songs, check out their CD The Holy Grail of Irish Drinking Songs or Marc Gunn's Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. Check out the Scottish Christmas traditions too.

The name Gunn is thought to be Norse in origin, the clan claiming descent from Gunni, grandson of Sweyn Asleifsson, "the Ultimate Viking" and second son of Olaf the Black, Norse King of Man and the Isles who died in 1237.

Noted for their war-like and ferocious character, they were sworn enemies of the Keiths and in 1426 at Harpsdale, south of Thurso, a particularly bloody but indecisive battle took place, after which the Gunns settled mainly in Sutherland. George Gunn held the office of Coroner of Caithness, known as "Crowner Gunn", he was one of the greatest men in the country at that time and lived in magnificent style in his castle at Clyth. He was killed through treachery in 1464 while trying to arrange a reconciliation with Clan Keith. His death was later avenged by his grandson who killed Keith of Ackergill, his son and twelve followers at Drummoy.

Feuds continued between the Gunns and the Mackays and the Earls of Caithness amd Sutherland. In 1585 the Earls attacked the Gunns who although fewer in number held their ground and slew 140 of their enemies. Only darkness prevented greater slaughter. However, the Gunns were later defeated at Lochbroom by the Earl of Sutherland. At the time of the Highland clearances in Sutherland, many of the Gunn clan were forced to emigrate to New Zealand and Canada.

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You can find out even more about Clan Gunn through the Clan Gunn Society of North America.

From the Celtic History Newsletter:

Just a few miscellaneous tidbits on holiday traditions.

Christmas Eve was often seen as a good time for divination. One tradition was to have every unmarried person present break an egg and drop the contents into a glass, the shape that the white of the egg formed was interpreted to indicate the occupation of their future spouse. The eggs were then mixed with milk and oatmeal and baked as a cake, if the cake should break while it was baking it was a sign of bad luck.

The Cailleach Nollaigh, the Christmas Old Wife, or Yeel-Carlin are all names for a a symbol of cold and death. It was tree stump (preferably oak) that is cut by the head of the household and carved into the shape of an old woman. It was burned in the fire on Christmas Eve where it had to burn completely to ash so that death would bypass the house in the coming year.

The burning of rowan at Christmas was a sign of burning away mistrust and jealousy between family, friend or neighbors.

Yule Bread was an unleavened bread similar to a bannock. In some areas it was baked at specific times on Christmas Eve between noon and six, in some places, or in Banff during the 1800s it was cooked over the Yeel-Carlin between 8 and 9 pm. In some areas they were make one for
each member of the family, and the person who found a trinket baked into their Yule Bread would have good luck.

Yule Ale was was brewed specially for Yule and made from hops, root ginger and molassas.

Farmers sometimes went into the byre, or stable on Christmas Eve to read a chapter of the Bible behind their cattle and horses to protect them from harm in the coming year.

On Christmas Day the first person to open the door in the morning would prosper the most that year. A table or chair would then be placed in the doorway, covered with a clean cloth and set with cheese and bread, or bannock for visitors.

On the morning of Christmas in Uist the old men would ask the younger men to row their boats from the shore 707 strokes of their oars before casting their lines in to water. And fish that are caught are then given to the poor or elderly as a tribute to St. Peter, king of fishermen.

First Footing was a Christmas tradition as well as its better known aspect of Scottish New Year's traditions. The first person visiting the house that day must not come empty handed, but must carry bread, money and peat symbolizing plenty of food wealth and warmth for the household.

Animals were given a special breakfast on Christmas. A sheaf of corn and a sheaf of oats were hung on a rowan tree for the wild birds, and owners of cattle fed them from their own hands on Yule morning.

Yule-tide loaves were baked of leavened rye flour, or main bread was baked with an impression of Jesus or the Virgin. Richly seasoned oat bread was baked in some areas, and became a specialty of some bakers. When the Calvinists turned away from celebrating any holy days except for the Sabbath the baking of Yule Bread was banned in 1583 and bakers were told to turn in any superstitious customers who continued to ask them to supply it.

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Watch for updates to our appearance schedules to see us in person in the coming year:

The Celtic Croft Schedule of Events
http://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/events_list.html
&
MacGregor Historic Games Schedule of Events
http://historicgames.com/Appearances.html

Make sure you check out "How NOT to Wear a Great Kilt". And if you like Scottish music, check out the free "Real Men Wear Kilts" bumper stickers or Marc Gunn's solo CD Soul of a Harper. Or even better, check out the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast for a free downloadable radio show of Celtic music twice a month.

One of my all time favorite songs is "Hotel Supramonte" by Fabrizio de Andre.

Fabrizio de Andrè was an Italian folk singer. From what I understand, back in the 70s, he and his wife were vacationing in Sardinia when some bandits kidnapped them. They were prisoners for four months before being released. This song came out of it. The imagery is stunning, and the song still brings me to tears every time I'm hear it.


Hotel Supramonte
(testo e musica di M. Bubola e F. De Andrè)

E se vai all'Hotel Supramonte e guardi il cielo
tu vedrai una donna in fiamme e un uomo solo
e una lettera vera di notte falsa di giorno
e poi scuse accuse e scuse senza ritorno
e ora viaggi vivi ridi o sei perduta
col tuo ordine discreto dentro il cuore
ma dov'è il tuo amore, ma dove è finito il tuo amore.

Grazie al cielo ho una bocca per bere e non è facile
grazie a te ho una barca da scrivere ho un treno da perdere
e un invito all'Hotel Supramonte dove ho visto la neve
sul tuo corpo così dolce di fame così dolce di sete
passera anche questa stazione senza far male
passerà questa pioggia sottile come passa il dolore
ma dov'è il tuo amore, ma dove è finito il tuo amore.

E ora siedo sul letto del bosco che ormai ha il tuo nome
ora il tempo è un signore distratto è un bambino che dorme
ma se ti svegli e hai ancora paura ridammi la mano
cosa importa se sono caduto se sono lontano
perché domani sarà un giorno lungo e senza parole
perché domani sarà un giorno incerto di nuvole e sole
ma dov'è finito il tuo cuore, ma dov'è finito il tuo cuore.


My mediocre English Translation:

And if you go to Hotel Supramonte and look at the sky
You will see a flaming woman and a man alone
And a letter true at night and false in the day
And then excuses and accusations excuses without return
And now you travel and live, laugh or you are lost
With your discreet order inside your heart
But where, where is your love, but where does your love end.

Thank God I have a mouth to drink and it is not easy
Thanks to you I have a pen to write I have a train to lose
And an invitation to the Hotel Supramonte where I saw the snow
On your body so sweet with hunger so sweet with thirst
This station too will pass without hurting
This subtle rain will pass just like the pain passes
But where, where is your love, but where does your love end.

And now I sit on the bed of the forest that by now has your name
Now the time is a distracted gentleman, is a sleeping child
But if you wake up and you're still afraid give me your hands
What matters is if I've fallen, if I'm far away
Because tomorrow will be a long day without words
Because tomorrow will be a day of uncertainty of clouds and sun
But where is your love, but where is? Is your love finished.

This was submitted to my Renaissance Festival Podcast compilation CD. The recording was a little long, but it's very cool! And just in time for the Beowulf movie.

BEOWULF
by Rathflaed DuNoir
The Black Bard of Meridies
mka: Stephen R. Melvin

See Grendel. See Grendel eat. Eat, Grendel, eat. Grendel is eating a few Danish for breakfast. Grendel especially likes the ones with the yellow coating on top. This is good because there are so many of them. Yummy!

See Hrothgar. He is sad. Sad, sad, sad. His warriors are leaving. They are sad because Grendel has eaten many of their friends. They do not want to play with Grendel anymore because Grendel is mean.

Hrothgar is also sad because his food is almost gone. Grendel eats the cows and pigs and horsies, too. Grendel is very hungry. Eat, Grendel, eat.

Hrothgar is also sad because his wife will not stop complaining. Whine, wife, whine. Hrothgar has tried to stop listening to her for three days now. Drink, Hrothgar, drink. Hrothgar is almost out of mead. Poor Hrothgar.

See Beowulf. He is big and strong and handsome. He has long viking braids and pointy horns on his hat and a really big sword. Ooh, Beowulf, ooh! He is sailing to Denmark to visit Hrothgar. Sail, Beowulf, sail. He does not know that Hrothgar is almost out of mead. Poor Beowulf.

Beowulf likes to sail. Beowulf likes to drink even more. Poor Beowulf. When he gets to Denmark, there is only enough mead left for one feast. Poor Beowulf. Poor Hrothgar. Poor warriors. Poor Grendel. Beowulf is very mad. Mad, mad, mad.

Beowulf vows to slay Grendel. Vow, Beowulf, vow. He promises to do many great feats. He swears to return with Grendel's head. Drink, Beowulf, drink.

Beowulf is lying very still. Is he waiting to surprise Grendel? No, he is not waiting to surprise Grendel. Is he meditating? No, he is not meditating. Is he practicing an Arcane magical ritual involving a lawn chair, six milk bottles and a tuning fork? No, he is unconscious. Won't he be surprised when he wakes up and they tell him about his promises? Won't he be happy to know that he has a quest? Won't he feel grand when the warriors cheer him? No, Beowulf will not feel grand for awhile. He has a headache. Poor Beowulf. Please stop cheering warriors.

O see the castle. It is very quiet. Is it quiet because everyone is afraid of Grendel? No it is not quiet becaude everyone is afraid of Grendel. Is it quiet because everyone is afraid of Beowulf? Yet, it is because everyone is afraid of Beowulf. Beowulf has had a very bad headache for three days. Last night, Beowulf's head hurt so bad that he was very mad. Mad, mad, mad. Grendel came over to play and made too much noise. Beowulf was very upset. Beowulf was so upset that he ripped Grendel's arm off and hung it over the door. Poor Grendel. Poor warriors. Smile at Beowulf. Just do it quietly.

O see the feast hall. It is bright and cheery. There is food on the tables and mead in the horns and a great big arm over the door. See the feasters. They are singing and laughing and drinking. Are they happy that Grendel is dead? Yes, they are happy that Grendel is dead. Are they happy that they can laugh and sing and play again? Yes, they are they happy that they can laugh and sing and play again. But most of all they are happy that there is more mead. Drink, Beowulf, drink.

O see Hrothgar. He is happy. Happy, happy, happy.

Is he happy that Grendel is dead? Is he happy that there is more mead? Yes, but he is mostly happy because his wife has stopped complaining. Smile, Hrothgar, smile.

O see Grendel's mother. She is sad. Sad, sad, sad. Is she sad because Grendel is gone? Is she sad because her other children never call? Is she sad because the Angels are losing again? Yes, she is sad because of all these things. But she is mostly sad because she won't get any more mother's day presents. This makes her mad. Mad, mad, mad.

She gets so mad that she decides to have some Danish for dessert. That is silly. Everyone knows that you are supposed to have Danish for breakfast. Silly, silly, silly.

In fact it is so silly that we think that Grendel's mother may have had something besides food for dinner. We think that Grendel's mother may have been drinking. Just like Beowulf.

O see Beowulf. Now that there is mead again he is drinking some more. Drink, Beowulf, drink. When Grendel's mother comes to the feast, Beowulf has already drunk quite a bit. So has Grendel's mother. He thinks she is the most beautiful woman in the world and makes a pass at her. Pass, Beowulf, pass. She is caught off guard and says no. Tease, monster, tease. Beowulf tries again. She leaves and he goes home with her. Grendel's mother was never heard from again. Beowulf was very quiet about the whole situation. Quiet, quiet, quiet.

THE END.

by Julian Jensen

Since we are on the topic of removing pants: My first encounter with the kilt phenomenon this Pennsic.

Anyone who has ever worn a real kilt knows instantly that there is no dignity to be salvaged from kilts. I am not talking about those wimpy little kilts that you simply buy and strap on. Bah! I am talking the real deal here. Why do we wear them? Because the women want us to. Actually, a pretty good reason. So after much consideration and soul-searching (and a few friendly polls) I decided to join the ranks of kilt wearers.

What were the Scots thinking? Were they even thinking at all? No wonder they got the shit kicked out of them on a regular basis. They were probably late for all their battles. I think it is all a huge cosmic misunderstanding. Someone on the armourarchive has this tagline that I think explains the kilt admirably: Kilt is a verb, as in 'I done kilt him'.

Somehow women got us all fooled into believing it is actually a skirt and supposedly soooo sexy. Oh, and that guys wearing a skirt are extra cool.

First, there is the shocking purchase of the kilt itself. See, there is no such thing as a period kilt. It is actually not a garment but rather 10 yards or more of very itchy wool. I know the sheep were glad to get rid of it. Once the price shock has faded and a normal color has returned to you face you break down and buy the darn thing under the watchful and appreciative eye of your lady on account of whom this whole escapade came to be in the first place.

Lugging the mass of fabric back to your pavilion you are now faced with an even greater affront to you highly esteemed dignity. The kilt application.

A kilt requires some serious preparation to put on. First, you put down a belt. On top of this belt you then lay the evil fabric itself. It must then be carefully pleated. Yeah, pleated. Makes you feel really warrior-like and battle ready. "Don't start without me, guys, I am pleating my kilt!" The proper length of fabric must be left at the ends and folded properly.

Now comes the real humiliation. In order to actually get the infernal garment to stay on your body you are now required to lay down, take of your pants, and underwear if worn, and then roll around lifting up the ends of the kilt. This procedure is invariably observed and judged by your lady's smug eyes and smirking face. She can't believe she got you to do this. All she had to do was mention Liam Neeson and Mel Gibson and off you went to the store. And now, here you are, 20 minutes later with you dangly bits flopping around crazily while trying to get the thing to not look like you are wearing hotpants.

Now the fun really starts. Having properly festooned yourself with yet another belt, a dagger and a huge claymore hanging on your back from a baldric you feel ready to face the world of Pennsic head on hoping that you won't meet any really short people. Walking around you think of all the advice people gave you regarding your thighs rubbing together. Somehow you couldn't get yourself to smear olive oil on the inside of your thighs and walk around Pennsic leaving a trail like a slug. This is when you realize that it is not the thighs you have to worry about. It is the fact that in a matter of minutes you will find yourself in possession of a hairless scrotum. As much as this may intrigue your lady you really don't want the other Scots to get the wrong idea. Not to mention upsetting the sheep. Since you are already tired from walking back up from the bog you decide to take a quick rest on the slope in front of the Spotted Pony and consider this new disturbing turn of events.

This is the moment when you realize a few other facts regarding the kilts. You sit and realize how wonderfully cool it is. So cool... You lean your head back and relax for a moment. You look at the people passing by. They are all looking at your kilt. Maybe this thing isn't so bad after all. You look down and realize that you are at this point completely and fully expose to the environment. Not just a little exposed. Not the kind of exposure that could be explained away as a trick of light. Part of your anatomy is severely and irrevocably protruding into the hot Pennsic day.

You suddenly remember that somebody once explained to you why the Scots have those pouches hanging down in front of the kilt. You lean forwards and scramble to once again enclose the offending member. At this point you also realize that sitting down with a heavy claymore on your back has solidly staked you to the ground. Your embarrassment now closely matches the entire getting-dressed event.

You hastily retreat back to your pavilion hoping no one saw your face. Which is probably a good assumption in this case. You take off the kilt while shaking your head. You vow to never wear dreadful thing again. You then look up at your lady and notices how she looks at you removing the kilt and realize one thing: Yeah, you'll probably wear it again.

---

Story by Julian Jensen, a patron of Pennsic, the big SCA war that takes place every year in Pennsylvania. Used by permission of the author.

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If you like Scottish music, check out the Brobdingnagian Bards new CD,
Real Men Wear Kilts, as well as their free bumper stickers that read "Real Men Wear Kilts", Marc Gunn's solo CD Soul of a Harper, and find lots of great Celtic music with The Secret World of Celtic Rock.

Success Tips for TNR

Our efforts are working. Alley Cat Allies hears from advocates across the country about the progress they're making with changing the archaic and entrenched animal control system in their community. Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR) is making a very real difference for feral cats in communities just like yours. Below are some tips to help you better help the cats.

Tip #1
Identify who your city council members are and how to contact them. Search for your city government's website on the internet. If your city does not have a website, look in your local white pages and call the city clerk's office. You can also stop by your local public library to get the information. Make sure to write down their full name, title, mailing address, and phone numbers (and e-mail if they have one listed). Take the time to introduce yourself to your city council members and start a line of communication with them. See more information about changing your community.

Tip #2
Start your own Trap, Neuter, and Return group! Alley Cat Allies has broken down the steps necessary for you to create your own organization dedicated to bettering the lives of outdoor cats through a Trap, Neuter, and Return program. If you are interested in creating a new clinic in your area, click here.

Tip #3
Organize! Feel like you are all alone in your town and trying to single-handedly help the outdoor cats yourself? Don't. Getting the word out about your work will help encourage and inspire others to help you in your mission. Educate other people by holding a class about Trap, Neuter, and Return at your local library. Tell people about the steps involved in the process, and make sure to get the attendee's name so you can contact them to help you in the future.

Tip #4
Talk to your local animal control officer about Trap, Neuter, and Return. Set up an appointment with him or her and bring some goodies. These officers are the people who you will need to work with in order to seek change in your community. If you are worried about what to say, download this PDF to learn how to best get the message across to your local officers. Just remember -- stay positive!

Tip #5
Trap, neuter, and return works! Wondering who else in the animal protection movement has a position on Trap, Neuter, and Return? Click here to read other organizations' perspectives. Using the perspectives of the other nationally respected organizations that support the humane method of outdoor cat population management may help you change the minds of important figures in your community.

Tip #6
Know the facts. With some time and a little research, you can be fully prepared for any question that may come your way. Alley Cat Allies has compiled scientific studies online, many with commentary. You can check out our past newsletter articles or read some scientific studies to help you get the facts straight and get the truth about feral cats out to your community.

Tip #7
Stand out in the crowd! Wear an orange ribbon, and encourage your supporters to do the same. This is an effective method of showing your support when attending a town hall meeting. Council representatives often want to know how many in the crowd support the issue in front of them. Make sure to have your speaker, if you are allowed to give a presentation, point out that all the people in the audience wearing an orange ribbon want Trap, Neuter, and Return in your community. Click here to order your own orange ribbons.

Tip #8
Get political. Read the paper, listen to the news and follow the actions your local government is taking on issues relating to animal care and management. Take the time to get to know your local laws and any pieces of legislation your governemnt officials are considering. Want to learn more about the implications of various animal laws? Learn how to organize to change these antiquated laws.

Tip #9
Get the truth out to the masses! News reporters are not intimidating, and speaking to them should not cause you hot sweats. Take your cues from the politicians you see on TV -- have a few talking points and repeat them over and over again. Stay positive, smile for the camera, and tell the truth. For more tips on working with the media -- click here.

Here's some of the guidelines Ande Rasmussen follows when he is writing lyrics:

1) there are no rules, there's only tools, you'll find exceptions to
everything below, but it's generally good to stick with them, unless
you have a really good reason not to

2) Genuine Idea
Is the idea worthy of becoming a song?
Does it strike a chord?
Does it make the singer look good?
Is it universal, will millions want to hear it over and over?

3) Conversational
write a lyric the way you would say it
lyrics are conversational, don't reverse word order for the sake of
rhyme, only use words you'd use in a natural normal conversation
keep it simple,
make it so people who are half listening can half understand

4) Song Structure
Lyrics have structure, there's usually a
verse then a chorus then the 2nd verse then the chorus
so the simplest song form is
V C V C
some songs have a Bridge
V C V C B C
There's several more song forms

5) Titles
songs have titles, they are the brand.
the title is the most repeated phrase in the chorus,
it's the phrase that sticks in people's heads,
find a word or phrase that DEMANDS ATTENTION
it usually summarizes the song
if a chorus has 8 lines
here's 5 examples of where title are often placed in 8 line choruses

1) x
2)
3)
4)
5) x
6)
7)
8)

1) x
2)
3) x
4)
5)
6)
7)
8) x

1) x
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8) x


1)
2)
3)
4) x
5)
6)
7)
8) x

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8) x

some songs don't have a chorus
they just have a repeated hook line


6) Prove the title.
The purpose of the verse is to lead the listener to the chorus
every line in the verse should be connected to and point to the title

the verses should build up to the chorus

7) IMAGERY
use imagery, don't tell me, show me with images
write with all your senses,
things you see, feel, hear, taste, and touch
Specifics are special,

8) Opening Lines
the opening line of the lyric should GRAB the listeners attention
Start with a bang
Drop the cat in the punch bowl! Splash
http://www.peoplestories.org/tips.asp
Establish who what when and where

9) Avoid cliches, they are the kiss of death
Attempt to create expressions that people have never heard before but
when they hear it they understand it.
Sometimes a cliche is what you need to use to best convey the emotion.

10) The last line in each verse should transition the listener into
the chorus

11) a song contains
a. *lyrics*: which are the words
b. *vocal melody* which is the way the words are sung and
c. *music* the notes and chords that fit around the music.

12) you don't need to be able to sing, read music, or even write
music to write songs

13) each line in a song needs to be concise
each syllable has to be sung, what's the simplest clearest way to
write it?

14) some words don't sing well, don't use them,
avoid adverbs, find the verb,
one and two syllable words are the backbone of lyrics

15) verse 1 and 2 should have the same rhyme scheme
when you compare each line in verse 1 and 2, they should have close
to the same number of syllables and you should be able to sing the
same melody on each line
ie when you compare V1 L1 with V2 L2

16) avoid puns and being overly clever, a song should generate a
real emotion in the listener rather than make the reader say,
"my my my you are so clever"

17) when an idea arrives, allow it to flow out, write,
write down what ever else arrives with it
just get it out
then go back later and edit it
if you have a strong idea you will think of many lines to go with it
edit them down to the strongest most effect lines

18) well written songs move listeners emotionally
well written lyrics move the readers emotionally
songs need to be universal which means people can relate to the tory
or situation in the song
We write songs for our listeners.

19) Music is about theme, variation on the theme, departure from the
theme, then return to the theme
Song sections need to contrast, lyricists do this by
only using title words in the chorus,
using different line lengths, rhyme sounds and rhyme patterns in
different sections

20) there's nothing new under the sun, strive to have something new
and special about your lyric

21) have your song idea radar on at all times
when you find a song idea write it down

22) songs rarely arrive fully baked at once
they usually arrive in bits and pieces
it's up to you to put the lyric together
writing lyrics can be like solving a puzzle

23) you can tweak the song forever ad nauseum
a some point have the courage to say
this song is done
but remember just because you say it's done doesn't mean that it is

24) Lyrics need to make the singer look good, but not too good

25) Think about which angle would best expresses the song
I / We / Me / Us
You
He She They

26) Write What you know
Write with authority, don't contrive

27) start a songwriting journal and write down your ideas
keep pen and paper handy where you can't bring your journal
when you have enough of a song going
transfer it to your computer

28) Consider cowriting, you're likely to write a better song faster

29) study the songs you love and write similar songs

30) keep a list of all the songs you've written, the date you
started, who you worked on it with, what the current status of the
song is

31) you dont have to use perfect rhymes,
like rock and block,
you can rhyme the vowel sound with out worrying about the end
consonants
imperfect rhymes sound similar to each other like swim and win,
imperfect rhymes give writers a larger word pallette

32) songwriting can be pandoras box
if you start you might not be able to stop

33) that's all for now but i'll probably write more later

I hope this helps you write better songs
Let me know if it does
so now I challenge you to write a lyric

Ande Rasmussen
Editor and Publisher of I F S, Inspirations For Songwriters
http://www.AndersRasmussen.com

You can hear a few of his tunes at:
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders
http://www.myspace.com/anders

From Seymoure:

Life is a gift, to waste it is the greatest sin. Do what you do, prepare as you can, and then move on. Worry never adds.

I used to tell the story of the two monks who are walking down a country road when they come upon a river. Suddenly a beautiful naked girl runs up to them. She says, "The river flooded everything I have away. My family is on the other side. Can you help me across to find them?" The younger monk is flustered, but the older one picks the girl up, throws her over his shoulder and walks across the river. When he reaches the shore he puts her down, and without a word, walks on. The younger monk follows, but his mind is not at rest.

After a couple of hours he stops his brother and says, "Brother, we are supposed to be above things of the flesh! And yet you picked that girl up and carried her across the river." The older monk says, "Yes, and when I got to the other side I put her down. You have been carrying her ever since." When it comes to using our time and energy every once in a while we have to put the girl down.

From the Celtic History Newsletter:

Last month I said I was going to continue my discussion of Celtic crosses, but with summer here and the Highland games / Renaissance fair / reenactment season here I thought it would be a good time write something lighter and to share a few tips for people who are trying to wear a kilt for the first time. Back to the crosses next month.

Andrew MacGregor?s Tips for New Kilt Wearers...

New to wearing a kilt? Start watching women in short skirts (-well more than you already do...) to study how they move while sitting down to avoid exposing themselves. You can learn some tips by following their example. That sweep of the hands underneath you as you sit can not only prevent embarassment, but protect you from surprises like cold/hot surfaces not to mention splinters.

Planning on buying/wearing a great kilt/belted plaid? Don't listen to the people who try to tell you that you need 9 yards of 60' wide material. All you need is 4-6 yards depending on your size and the pattern of the tartan. The idea of 9 yards comes from a misconception because the cloth for a belted plaid was only around 25' wide, depending on the size of the loom that was used to weave it. A 9 yard length of cloth was cut in half, and then the selvedge (long) edges were stitched together, resulting in a piece fabric only about four and a half yards long and 50 (or so) inches wide. See this article by Matthew A. C. Newsome (Member of the International Guild of Tartan Scholars, curator of the Scottish Tartans Museum) for more discussion of the matter. For the people that tell you that the phrase "The whole nine yards" refers to the belted plaid see this article for all the other supposed explanations of that phrase.

A site with step-by-step pictures of pleating a great kilt.

Chafing. Yes, there is a certain esprit de corps about being regimental, but on a hot, humid day even us skinny guys can suffer. So if you are out on a hot/humid day you are NOT any less manly a Scot if you save yourself some pain by wearing some bike shorts, or boxers. Briefs can help, but they don't prevent your inner thighs from rubbing. Another option is a little anti-perspirant where your thighs rub together to minimize irritation later in the day.

If your sporran is full/heavy and you need to run or move quickly, move it off-center so it doesn't bounce against delicate parts.

If you are going to wear a sword, especially with a great kilt/belted plaid, use a baldrick that goes over your shoulder rather than belting the scabbard at your waist. If you are spending the day at a Renaissance fair or historical reenactment, the combined weight of your plaid, sporran, sword and any other accoutrement all hanging from a belt at your waist can become very uncomfortable on your hips after a couple hours.

Moms, please don't put your young boys into a full-sized great kilt/belted plaid. It can take a while to get used to wearing a great kilt, even for an adult. So if you want your son to enjoy participating in your hobby, or celebrating your heritage, make sure he is as comfortable as possible -let him wear a cut-down plaid made from a generic tartan as a great kilt that fits his size. Once he grows out of it you can use your "son's first kilt" as an arasaid, or shawl. Or he can use it as a "fly plaid" pinned to his shoulder.

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The Brobdingnagian Bards host a Great article "On the Dignity of How to Wear Kilts". And if you like Scottish music, check out the Brobdingnagian Bards new CD, Real Men Wear Kilts, as well as their free bumper stickers that read "Real Men Wear Kilts", Marc Gunn's solo CD Soul of a Harper, and find lots of great Celtic music with The Secret World of Celtic Rock.

Vicrtorian writers often assumed that stone market crosses in many villages in the British Isles were replacements for the original wooden crosses erected by saints and priests in the early days of Christianity. But in the early 20th century a man named John Irwin pointed out that as early amateur archaeologists began exploring the remoter parts of Britain they found sculpted stones with more obviously pre-Christian markings and clearly phallic shapes. Some of the local people even maintained customs that were associated with these stones.

Unfortunately, some of these Victorians, coming on objects which they found too embarrassing for a 19th century audience, seem to have quietly broke, or buried some of these objects. The phallic-shaped Clackmannan Stone, located east of Stirling, is one of the few to have survived, and stands a short distance from a later market cross. Another stone, the Longholm Mercat (market cross) was unearthed by road construction crew, and is again, a shaft with a knob on the top. It was found to have a cross inscribed in it?s top which is believed to be a later addition.

These more phallic stones are suggested to have been the early inspiration for many later market crosses in the form of a tall shaft with a ball or knob at the top. Although they are not actually cross-shaped, these have come to be called market crosses as a generic term since many had crosses as additional decorations on the top, and since they have been used for similar community purposes as actual cross-shaped monuments in villages and towns. The symbolism behind these monuments is often said to be that of the world axis -the link between heaven and earth. The ball or sphere at the top may represent heaven, the spiritual state, or even the sun. The shaft is the world-axis or bridge between heaven and earth and the common square base represents the earth.

More on these monuments and some of the symbols associated with them next month.

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If you enjoy our newsletter, please support it by visiting out our online stores, or seek us out at the events listed on our web sites.

The Celtic Croft & MacGregor Historic Games

And if you like Irish music, check out the Brobdingnagian Bards new CD, The Holy Grail of Irish Drinking Songs, my new CD Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion, or Victims of Irish Music. And if you're ready for more St. Patrick's Day music, check the link.

From the Celtic History Newsletter:

Last month I said that one of the more notable changes started by the early Irish farming culture was in the burial of their dead. There is little surviving evidence of burial customs among the earlier hunter-gatherer peoples of Ireland, but starting around 4000 BC we see the first funerary monuments in the form of megalithic structures consisting of massive rocks that were often covered with soil and sod.

These late stone age large stone constriuctions were actually a custom throughout Atlantic Europe and pre-date the numorous stone circles that were assembled later during the Bronze Age. Around 1500 megalithic tombs have been identified in Ireland.

Little is known about the homes or social organization of these tomb builders, but it is clear from the size of some of the monuments that they must have had a fairly well organized social structure. The huge mound at Newgrange is estimated to contain 200,000 tons of stones. Using sledges, logs as rollers, levers and counter-weights as tools, various calculations have said that it would have taken 300 or 400 laborers as long as 20, or 30 years to transport the materials and construct this mound which cover an area of over an acre.

These tombs are divided into 4 styles

Wedge Tombs are the most common in Ireland, with over 400 that have been identified by archaeologists. They are called 'wedge' tombs because of their distinctive shape, being taller and wider at the front, and lower and narrower at the rear. These date from the later end of the Irish Neolithic period up to the Bronze Age with some dates showing them to be between 3000 and 4000 years old.

Passage tombs: (Such as NewGrange, see link above, as well as) where the burial chamber is reached along a distinct, and usually low, passage. later ones, are sometimes covered with a cairn of earth or rocks. Most of the passage tombs were constructed aroun 3,000 B.C.

Court Tombs: A long rectangular or trapezoid cairn was raised over several burial chambers. The tombs had an elongated curve of stones delineating an outer area at their entrances, called a court or forecourt which usually faces the east. The cairns can be up to 30 meters long, 14 meter wide at front and 7 wide at rear. In some cases the courts appear to have been designed to accomodate the mourners at the burials. There are over 300 Court tomb sites in Ireland, located mainly in the upper half of the country. Common artifacts found in court tombs include sherds of round bottomed pottery bowls, leaf or lozenge shaped flint arrowheads and hollow scrapers made from flint. Also a few javelin heads and polished stone axe heads have been
recorded.

Portal Tombs: (once called Dolmens) These are more common in western Ireland and may be the best known of the Irish burial tombs, possibly due to some impressive and easily accessible sites still remaining. The people who built portal tombs seem to have had some connections or similarities to the court tomb builders since similar artifact have been found with both, and they both tend to appear in lowland settings.

For the most part these all of these tombs were used for communal burials for cremated remains not for single bodies. It has also been suggested that some of the tombs may have been more than simple burial monuments to ancestors and possibly created as declarations of territorial rights.

-----------------------
If you enjoy our newsletter, please support it by visiting out our online stores, or seek us out at the events listed on our web sites.

The Celtic Croft & MacGregor Historic Games

And if you like Irish music, check out the Brobdingnagian Bards new CD, The Holy Grail of Irish Drinking Songs, Irish Stout's A Collection of Irish Pub Songs, or Victims of Irish Music. And if you're ready for more St. Patrick's Day music, check the link.

From the Celtic History Newsletter:

It was about 11 thousand years ago that the last Ice Age started coming to a close, and the bare of Ireland was colonized quickly by plant species such as grasses, dock and meadowsweet, followed by juniper, willow, birch and hazel. It was about 10,000 years ago that the first know human inhabitants came to what would become Ireland.

Although the levels of the ocean were still lower than they are today, it is likely that there was already open water between Ireland and continental Europe. Thus the first peoples to arrive in Ireland would have had to come across by boat or raft, making the east coast of Ireland the most likely location for the first settlements.

Although probably at least semi-nomadic these mesolithic peoples seem to have settled primarily along river banks, lake shores and the coast. These areas probably provided a ready supply of food for a hunter-gatherer population. There were few large animals in Ireland at the time. The giant Irish deer (with a antler span as wide as 3 meters) became extinct in a resurgence of cold temperatures just before the end of the Ice Age. A smaller deer-like animal, as well as the red deer were present, but the surviving evidence suggests that wild pigs, in addition ton game birds were the primary quarry of the earliest inhabitants of Ireland. Hazelnuts were easy to store and probably an important resource over the winter until the salmon run began in spring.

It is believed that in similar settlements in Britain that the inhabitants may have used fire to clears sections of woodland in the hope of attracting animals who grazed in more open areas. In County Antrim there are layers in of soil dating to about 6000 B.C. that show charcoal layers and a change in plant pollen that suggest the earliest Irish may have done the same. However, it seems that they did not modify their environment to a great deal, but rather exploited the
existing resources.

Excavations on Mount Sandel in County Derry and overlooking the estuary of the Lower Bann have found the earliest know occupation of Ireland dated between 7000 and 6650 B.C. based on radiocarbon dating. Although centuries of farming and plowing fields may have destroyed much evidence, a number of post-holes were found in arcs which were centered around fire pits. These huts were about 6 meters across and seem to have been made of saplings set into the ground and probably woven together to make an inverted basket, or possibly a tepee-shaped
shelter.

Although animal bones do not often survive in the acidic soils of the Mount Sandel area, the inhabitants through a number of bones into their fires, and the surviving fragments give us a picture of the diet the residents. Over three hundred bones were found one from a dog, three from hares and although there were some bird and fish bones as well most of the rest came from wild pigs. It's not until the about the 4000 B.C. during the Neolithic period that the first evidence of farming appears in Ireland.

A little more on the earliest Irish peoples next month

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If you enjoy our newsletter, please support it by visiting out our online stores, or seek us out at the events listed on our web sites.

The Celtic Croft & MacGregor Historic Games

And if you like Irish music, check out the Brobdingnagian Bards new CD, The Holy Grail of Irish Drinking Songs, Irish Stout's A Collection of Irish Pub Songs, or Victims of Irish Music. And if you're ready for more St. Patrick's Day music, check the link.

See! I told you I would post some more St. Patrick's Day quotations. Sure, it took me longer than I had expected, but hey! You take what you can get. The St. Patrick's Day Party is just beginning too! Five more days until my St. Paddy's Day birthday.

1. "Half a loaf of bread is better than no bread at all."
   -- Irish Proverb
   
   
2. "Remember even if you loose all, keep your good name; for if you loose that you are worthless."
   -- Irish Proverb
   
   
3. "An Irishman is never drunk as long as he can hold onto one blade of grass to keep from falling off the earth."
   -- Irish Saying
   
   
4. "Don't be breaking your shin on a stool that's not in your way."
   -- Irish Saying
   
   
5. "Ireland is rich in literature that understands a soul's yearnings, and dancing that understands a happy heart."
   -- Margaret Jackson
   
   
6. "Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat."
   -- Alex Levine
   
   
7. "O Ireland isn't it grand you look--Like a bride in her rich adornin? And with all the pent-up love of my heart I bid you the top o' the mornin!"
   -- John Locke "The Exile's Return"
   
   
8. "In Ireland the inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs."
   -- Sir John Pentland Mahaffy
   
   
9. "On she went, and her maiden smile In safety lighted her round the Green Isle; And blest forever was she who relied Upon Erin's honor and Erin's pride."
   -- Thomas Moore
   
   
10. "When anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees. Maimed, stark and misshapen, but ferociously tenacious."
    -- Edna O'Brien (1932– )
    
    
11. "Why should Ireland be treated as a geographical fragment of England . . . Ireland is not a geographical fragment, but a nation."
    -- Charles Stewart Parnell (1846—1891)
    
    
12. "Eternal is the fact that the human creature born in Ireland and brought up in its air is Irish. I have lived for twenty years in Ireland and for seventy-two in England; but the twenty came first, and in Britain I am still a foreigner and shall die one."
    -- George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950 )
    
    
13. "There is no language like the Irish for soothing and quieting."
    -- John Millington Synge (1871–1909)
    
    
14. "Anyone acquainted with Ireland knows that the morning of St. Patrick's Day consists of the night of the 17th of March flavored strongly with the morning of the 18th."
    -- Unknown
    
    
15. "We . . . are no petty people. We are one of the great stocks of Europe. We are the people of Burke; we are the people of Swift, the people of Emmet, the people of Parnell. We have created most of the modern literature of this country. We have created the best of its political intelligence."
    -- W. B. Yeats (1865–1939) speech in the Irish Senate, June 11, 1925

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Resource Box - © Danielle Hollister (2005) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine
- A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like - love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more; plus freebies and links to related resources. All new subscribers get one free ad. Read it - online

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danielle_Hollister

St. Patrick's Day is getting closer. So I've been reading more about this Irish holiday of holidays. It's funny looking at most of the articles about St. Patrick's Day. Most of them are all shamrocks and leprechauns and green beer. It's seen as time to dress green and get drunk.

While I guess I'm not the best judge of such things since I play Irish drinking songs, in fact, I do encourage temperance. Getting totally pissed is both unattractive and not that much fun. To me, I'd rather be in control. Of course if you're gonna drink on St. Patrick's Day, have fun, but be gentle to your body (and others around you). Don't get plastered, drink so you actually might enjoy yourself, not so your vomiting green crap all over your friends.

This has been a public service announcement from Marc Gunn. hehe!

Oh! And if you want to be REALLY smart, stay away from green beer all together. That's just nasty. Guinness all the way!

Okay, here's some nice St. Patrick's Day quotes:

1. "It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody."
   -- Brendan Behan(1923-1964) - Irish dramatist, author
   
   
2. "In order to find his equal, an Irishman is forced to talk to God."
   -- Stephen Braveheart
   
   
3. "St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time -- a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic."
   -- Adrienne Cook
   
   
4. "When I die I want to decompose in a barrel of porter and have it served in all the pubs in Ireland."
   -- J. P. Dunleavy
   
   
5. "This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever."
   -- Sigmund Freud (about the Irish)
   
   
6. "There is an Irish way of paying compliments as though they were irresistible truths which makes what would otherwise be an impertinence delightful."
   -- Katherine Tynan Hinkson
   
   
7. "You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was."
   -- Irish Proverb
   
   
8. "The most beautiful music of all is the music of what happens."
   -- Irish Proverb
   
   
9. "A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book."
   -- Irish Proverb
   
   
10. "You never miss the water till the well has run dry."
    -- Irish Proverb

More quotes coming soon...

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Resource Box - © Danielle Hollister (2005) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine
- A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like - love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more; plus freebies and links to related resources. All new subscribers get one free ad. Read it - online

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danielle_Hollister

From the Celtic History Newsletter:

I was planning on talking more about the earliest inhabitants of Ireland this month, but I’m moving that to next month. Since Tartan Day is coming up April 7th I decided to take a quick look at this new holiday to give people a little time to learn about, or organize their own local celebrations.

Since 1998, April 7th has been officially recognized by the US Senate as a day to celebrate the many ways in which Scottish-Americans have contributed to the history and prosperity of the United States.

The date for Tartan Day was selected to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, This document which asserted Scotland's independence from English claims is often interpreted as an early expression of 'popular sovereignty' – that kings could be chosen by the people rather than by God alone. It is also frequently said to have had an influence on the American Declaration of Independence.

During the 20-year Scottish War of Independence. Edward II of England was determined to take possession of Scotland, and England actually succeeded in persuading the Pope to excommunicate all of Scotland. In 1317 Pope John XXII sent two cardinals to England in an attempt to negotiate a truce, and in response to the papal intervention Robert the Bruce wrote two letters to the Pope. Accompanying the letters was the Declaration of Arbroath, a document drawn up by Scottish clergy and nobles, which formally set out Scotland’s case for independence. It was drawn up at Arbroath Abbey on 6 April, 1