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Parties/celebrations

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Original poster

I do like the whole cedigh (sp?) thing, but ...

57 replies

NotQuiteCockney · 09/04/2007 15:26

I always find myself acutely aware of it as a mating ritual, and alternately embarassed/amused by it. Largely in a 'well, I didn't think I was sexually compatible with this woman/old man/weirdo, but it's good to have that confirmed ' sort of way.

Am I the only one?

OP posts:
sunnywong · 09/04/2007 15:27

what are you on about, dear?

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 09/04/2007 15:28

The barn dance thing? That people do at weddings?

Pronounced 'cayleigh'?

You have a caller and you prance about doing silly things like Strip the Willow, and there's one where you basically play 'pat-a-cake'?

OP posts:
Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 09/04/2007 15:28

Oh good, now I'm up-talking. Shoot me now.

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Carmenere · 09/04/2007 15:29

Ceilidh or Set dancing. Not the same thing afaik

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 09/04/2007 15:29

Ah, right, it's spelled 'Ceilidh'. I know there was a pointless d in there, I just didn't know where ...

OP posts:
sunnywong · 09/04/2007 15:29

is it like morris dancers waving hankies they have cultivated under their armpits to give of pheramones?

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 09/04/2007 15:29

I think it was called a Ceilidh, the one last night. I've been to a bunch of weddings with these - folk dancing, with a caller, and partners. With lots of the dances, you end up dancing with every dancer on the floor who's the opposite dancer.

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Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 09/04/2007 15:30

Bit more intimate. I ended up having to do 'ballroom hold' type stuff with a wide range of strange blokes. I bet they loved the fact I tend to lead if my partner is weak.

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PinkTulips · 09/04/2007 15:34

ceiligh is what we call an irish dancing night over here.

we used be forced to do them in school with boys from the closest boys school

if you went to the gaelteacht during summer they were the equivalant of a school disco but with irish dancing.

the dances are all proper irish dances and many do have meanings but lord knows what they are.

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 09/04/2007 15:35

Um, there may be a more interesting meaning, but by and large, the obvious meaning is 'lets make sure everyone pairs off with everyone, so if any couple has any magnetism between them, they'll notice'. It's speed dating, only with less talking and more skipping.

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Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 09/04/2007 15:36

It would be rather alarming doing these sorts of dances in an actual potential courtship situation, that would be very weird, imo.

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PinkTulips · 09/04/2007 15:37

look at it this way, if your forced to do them in school at least everyone gets to dance with the cute boy

very cringeable though i agree

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 09/04/2007 15:39

Yes, yes, the school discos I experienced at school were horrible in a completely different way, tbh. At least in this a) there's a right way to do the dance, and they're telling you what that is (you don't have to work it out by studying music videos and b) you don't have to wait for someone to ask you (I don't think?).

Oh, I hated school discos, and I really do like this sort of dancing at weddings. It was a bit odd when we were doing one with two women per man, so DH made me go ask a female friend of ours, as he couldn't do it.

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PinkTulips · 09/04/2007 15:42

yeah... we never had those sort of school discos thankfully as i was deeply uncool and would have ended up at home in tears i think

hannahsaunt · 09/04/2007 16:08

Ceilidhs are fab - infintely better than a school disco for getting better acquainted ! Absolutely love them and will be teaching my boys to dance asap!

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 09/04/2007 16:25

See, I can see an argument for these as a school disco equivalent. But doing them with a friend's dad, some women (being men, as there's a shortage), and a bunch of other strange people, doesn't really work, does it? (Not least when one of the men involved is your husband. I mean, it's great when you find you have no bond with all these other random blokes, and have one with your DH, but it's still embarassing and weird, all of it.)

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PinkTulips · 09/04/2007 16:27

think your reading too much into it tbh... have never seen it as a mating ritual myself. just a bit of craic when drunk/hideously embaressing as a teen

MrsBadger · 09/04/2007 16:33

oh I love these
We were forced to do 'country dancing' (the English equivalent) at primary school so I am an experienced willow-stripper, also did a lot of church barn dances in my youth so am a dab hand at steering befuddled men twice my size into the right steps.
Does mean I get worked up when one numpty turns the wrong way and ruins the pattern though

hannahsaunt · 09/04/2007 16:51

Yes MrsB - people who can't count to 8 are infuriating! However, it has to be said, they are still a bit of a laugh and we have been known to go to the big ones in the Festival where you know only those with whom you have come. It's a good way at weddings and the like of being able to dance and socialise with older relatives who adore the attention and can join in - they are a great leveller rather than wedding discos which can be quite off putting for some generations.

princesscc · 09/04/2007 17:08

Some of the best parties I have been to are scottish ceilidhs! Its so much fun! The more you drink, the better it gets! There's nothing like a south london lass getting swung round at 90 mph by a burly scotsman! Got swung round so much once, I had bruises on the inside of my upper arms for days.

MintChocChippyMinton · 09/04/2007 17:20

Until the combination of swinging and alcohol catches up with your stomach LOL

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 09/04/2007 19:57

I do quite enjoy the dancing - I just find myself embarassed by the 'courtship' part of it.

Last night went wrong because we were trying to do Strip the Willow, but a contingent of non-English-speakers stalled at the top of the line, and couldn't be brought down, it seemed.

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liath · 09/04/2007 20:00

They can be a bit dangerous - I had one at my wedding and DH broke my nose during the eightsome reel ! There was blood everywhere & no-one forgot my wedding in a hurry!

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 09/04/2007 20:04

OMG! A broken nose!

There was nothing as bad as that at this one. Thinking about it, there weren't even any strapless dress failures, which is impressive, given how many women were in strapless dresses.

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princesscc · 09/04/2007 20:14

When I have been to them in Scotland, it seems to me that everyone young & old just knows what to do, without fear or embarrasment. It's such a shame that us down this end of the country are so like ducks out of water to it. I suppose theres room for another thread really, but is Morris Dancing really all we've got to offer in England!

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