Gaels

Songs

Gaelic songs varied in topics and were used as a musical form of stories, praises (gaels shy away from praise due to the belief of bad luck, it is only accepted in a form of a song), and song about a specific job. These songs about work can be about milling, milking a cow, weaving, churning, rowing or preparing cloth for use, and many more. Face-pacing milling songs remained popular even when the need for milling declined, some summer festivals still included a milling frolic for people to beat a wool cloth on the table and sing songs. Other songs told stories about humorous events, tragic drownings, the immense beauty of nature or difficulties of settling to a new land. In general, all songs showed roots from Scottish origins.