Dear fellow Caledonians:

February has at least two significant celebration days we Americans enjoy: Super Bowl Sunday on the 7th, and Valentine’s Day, on the 14th. According to rampantscotland.com the Scots look it at this way:

Candlemas Day - 2 February, 
Candlemas began as a Roman festival to celebrate the return of spring. It is now a Scottish legal "quarter day" when rents and other payments fall due. There is an old traditional poem which said that

    "If Candlemas Day be bright and fair 
    Half the winter is to come and mair (more) 
    If Candlemas Day be dark and foul 
    Half the winter was over at Yowl (Christmas)

St. Valentine's Day - 14th February 
This used to be an excuse for youngsters to go round begging for sweets, money or fruit, while older brothers and sisters tried to find a sweetheart. "Name-papers" were sometimes used where names were written and placed in a bonnet and and each person drew out a paper. If the same name was drawn three times, it meant a marriage would take place. The poem could apply to our Groundhog Day, which is also observed on February 2nd.

Well, the Burns Supper is behind us and we now turn our full attention to the Highland Games, which will be held a Steele-Indian School Park on March 19th and 20th. If you’d like to volunteer, go to this link:
www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084fabaf2baafa7-52nd

We’ll be joining Fuil Celtic (see separate article and pics) for our February Gathering this month. They are presenting an educational seminar on the 7 Celtic Nations, Saturday February 20th, at Rosie McCaffrey’s. The details are elsewhere in the newsletter.

So, start doubling down on your favorite* tonic or elixir because the Society’s busiest time of the year is rapidly approaching. We can always use more volunteers, so sign-up at the above link, and/or speak with Games Chairman Paul Bell at the February 20th event

*Here's one of my favorites:

Don Finch, Editor

Our 52nd annual Robbie Burns Supper was held on Saturday January 23rd at the Phoenix Country Club.

This year’s Chair, Vicki Phegley and her committee did an outstanding job and the evening was a grand success.

Len Wood (right) Pipe Major for the Phoenix Pipe Band was presented with a Lifetime Member award for his role in founding the original Arizona Highland Games 50 years ago.

Sr. Drum Major Kevin Conquest (left) of the Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band was presented with a 20 Year Service Award for his ongoing role of organizing the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Games.

Enjoy the photos below taken by Jennifer Green. The individual portraits will be emailed during early February.

Born out of a desire to learn, by a group of friends, Fuil Celtic (Pronounced Fweel Celtic) is an organization dedicated to helping people discover and explore their Celtic heritage.

On a beautiful summer day in Flagstaff, Arizona, a group of friends who had gathered at the Arizona Highland Celtic Festival to represent their respective Scottish clans began discussing their own varied celtic heritages, and came to the realization that while there are many wonderful organizations dedicated to various Celtic cultures in the Phoenix Metro area, there was not one that worked to promote all of the Celtic Nations. As a result, Fuil Celtic was formed to fill this gap. Translated, Fuil Celtic means Blood of the Celts, representing the sense of family that is present within the Celtic community of Arizona

The founding members of Fuil Celtic include Eric Wells, of Clan Scott; Krystle Wells of Clan Colquhoun; Shawn McFarland, of Clan MacFarlane; Robert Wahl, of Clan Donnachaidh, and Lawrence Dubreuil. Additionally, Fuil Celtic receives support from many friends and family of the founding members.

Fuil Celtic, with their desire to help people learn more about their Celtic heritage has committed to providing as many educational opportunities as possible through workshops scheduled throughout the course of the year. Topics such as cuisine, athletics, art, and religion will be covered in these workshops. As well as providing educational opportunities, Fuil Celtic wants to help people connect with individuals and organizations that will help them explore their heritage, including the Caledonian Society of Arizona, and The Welsh League of Arizona.

Fuil Celtic is also dedicated to assisting those who are in need of help, and have committed to raising funds for a charity each year. The recipient charity for 2015, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, will receive $555 that was raised at the informal Burns Supper hosted by Fuil Celtic on January 23rd, 2016. The chosen charity for 2016 is The Turner Syndrome Society of the United States. They will receive funds raised over the course of the year at various Fuil Celtic events hosted during 2016.

If you are interested in attending Fuil Celtic activities, or learning more about your own Celtic heritage, please take a look at our website, www.fuilceltic.com, or find us on Facebook by searching for Fuil Celtic. You can also contact any of the founding members for more information.

The Early Years of the Royal Scots

The Royal Scots, otherwise known as the Royal Regiment, is the oldest line infantry regiment in the British Army.  Its proud heritage can be traced back to 1633.  In March of that year, Charles I granted Sir John Hepburn a warrant to raise a regiment of 1,200 men in Scotland.  The men were sent to France.  Scotland during this period was a prolific recruitment area for levies of soldiers for service abroad.  Scots troops were sent to Russia, Sweden, Denmark, France and North Africa.  Natural attrition due to disease and death in (or as a result of) battle, and desertions, ensured that recruiters had to return to Scotland on a frequent basis in order to fill up the gaps in the ranks.

Recruiting for the Royal Scots was rapid and soon exceeded the original figure of 1,200.  Indeed, in August of that year, 2,000 men landed in France.  While one might conclude that the recruiting officers were very good at their job, a closer examination of those early recruits gives food for thought.

Early in 1633, the Privy Council of Scotland was preparing for Charles I to visit Edinburgh for his coronation as king of Scotland. The event was scheduled for June.  At the time, it was the practice to impale the heads of persons executed (either for political reasons or criminal offences) on the spikes on top of the West Port gate.  To avoid offending the king's sensitivities, the Privy Council directed that the heads should be removed and that all beggars and vagabonds should be cleared from the city during the king's sojourn.

The city was swarming with these beggars and vagabonds.  Could it be that the raising of 800 more men by the recruiters was aided by the directive regarding the beggars?  It's not unreasonable to suppose that the City of Edinburgh saw this as a perfect way to rid herself of some of her unwanted citizens. 

The regiment stayed in France until 1661.  Returning to Britain at the request of Charles II, it took its place as the 1st of Foot.  The regiment was deemed to have been British since its founding in 1633, even when serving in France.

2016 Highland Games Update
by Paul Bell, Games Chairman

Let the countdown begin!

We are just about a month and a half from the 52nd Annual Scottish Gathering and Highland Games and we are putting it into high gear! Vendor applications are rolling in at a steady pace with a few new vendors joining us this year. There are already classes in the athletic competition that are full and we also received word that we will have confirmed 15 pipe bands coming! The Highland Dace competition, while not being a championship will be sure to be a busy area as well.

It has been great working the planning meetings and getting so many new faces volunteering to help organize the various areas. A few things will change this year with the Wee Ones area being in the south field to allow for the Learners Arms / Reenactors area and the Clans area to grow and spread out more.
I can’t go without thanking all the volunteers who have stepped up to help!

Special thanks to Michael MClanathan who has jumped into the fray with both feet taking over Piping Chair last year with little to no experience and working hard to triple the number of bands for this year!

We are going to put on a good show and share our passion and heritage with all who come through the gates!!!                 Alba gu bràth

Scottish walks, East Lomond and Fife
(from The Scotsman 1/27/2016)

www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/outdoors/scottish-walks-east-lomond-fife-1-401075

Fife brewer Eden Mill takes aim at US drinks market
(from The Scotsman 1/27/2016)

www.scotsman.com/business/companies/media-leisure/fife-brewer-eden-mill-takes-aim-at-us-drinks-market-1-4012324

Aircraft carrier assembled in Fife welcomes first crew/
(from The Scotsman 1/27/2016)


www.scotsman.com/news/transport/aircraft-carrier-assembled-in-fife-welcomes-first-crew-1-4012430

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