Ossian Collection > Carmina gadelica > Volume 1

SEASONS 203
milk till St. Michael's Eve, after which they are allowed to remain in the hill and to
run dry. The struan is baked by the eldest daughter of the family, guided by her
mother, and assisted by her eager sisters. As she moistens the meal with the milk
the girl softly says —
' Ruth agus rath an treo, Progeny and prosperity of family,
Run Mhicheil, dion an Teor.' .Mystery of Michael, protection of Trinity.
A ' leac struain,' struan flag, brought by the young men of the family from the
moorland during the day, is securely set on edge before the fire, and the ' struan ' is
set on edge against it. The fire should be of ' crionach caon/ sacred fagots, such
as the fagots of the oak, the rowan, the bramble, and others. The blackthorn,
wild fig, trembling aspen, and other 'crossed' wood are avoided. As the 'struan '
gains consistency, three successive layers of a batter of cream, eggs, and butter are
laid on each side alternately. The batter ought to be put on with three tail
feathers of a cockerel of the year, but in Uist this is generally done with 'badan
murain,' a small bunch of bent-grass. This cake is called 'struan treo/ family
struan; 'struan mor,' large struan, and 'struan comachaidh,' communal struan.
Small struans are made for individual members of the family by mothers, daughters,
sisters, and trusted servants. These are known as ' struain beag,' little struans ;
' struain cloinne,' children's struans, and by the names of those for whom they are
made. If a member of the family be absent or dead, a struan is made in his or her
name. This struan is shared among the family and special friends of the absent
one in his or her name, or given to the poor who have no corn of their own. In
mixing the meal of the individual struan, the woman kneading it mentions the name
of the person for whom it is being made.
'Ruth agus rath Dhomhnuill, Progeny and prosperity to Donald,
Run .Mhicheil, dion an Domlinaich.' Mystery of Michael, shielding of the Lord.
The individual struans of a family are uniform in size but irregular in form,
some being three cornered, symbolic of the Trinity ; some five, symbolic of the
Trinity, with Mary and Joseph added ; some seven, symbolic of the seven mysteries ;
some nine, symbolic of the nine archangels ; and some round, symbolic of eternity.
Various ingredients are introduced into the small struans, as cranberries, bilberries,
brambleberries, carraway seed, and wild honey. Those who make them and those
for whom they are made vie with their friends who shall have the best and most
varied ingredients. Many cautions are given to her who is making the struan
to take exceptional care of it. Ills and evils innumerable would befall herself and
her house should any mishap occur to the struan. Should it break before being
fired, it betokens ill to the girl baking it ; if after being fired and before being
used, to the household. Were the struan flag to fall and the struan with it, the
omen is full of evil augury to the family. A broken struan is not used. The
' fallaid,' dry meal remaining on the baking-board after the struan is made, is put