Grampian Club > Scotland, social and domestic

338 Scotland, Social and Domestic.
In 1695, the Presbytery of Penpont consulted the
Provincial Synod respecting a superstition which largely
prevailed as to the virtues of the Dow Loch. The
Synod ordered the Presbytery to denounce the practice
of making pilgrimage to the loch, from every pulpit in
their bounds.
From the Reformation downwards the observance of
festival days has been prohibited by the Church. In
January, 1573, the Kirk-session of St. Andrews sentenced
certain persons to make " open satisfaction for observing
Zuill day," and ordained that Sunday only " sould be
kept holyday." In 1605, the Kirk-session of Dundonald
examined John Wyllie on the charge of " nott yoking
his plough on Zuill day." He escaped censure by de-
claring that he was at the " smiddie, laying and mending
the pleuch yernes."
By an Act passed on the 13th February, 1645, the
General Assembly prohibited " masters of schools and
colleges " from granting Yule as a holiday, under the
pain of high censures. The Assembly further resolved
that any school children or college students, who, by the
superstitious observance of festival days, should violate
the rules of the Church, should not be again received,
unless on submission, into any schools or colleges within
the kingdom.
On the 26th December, 1683, the Kirk-session of
Glasgow ordained five persons to make public repent-
ance because they had observed Yule, and the bakers
of the city were warned to discontinue the practice of
baking " Yule bread."
Certain recreative practices anciently observed at
Christmas were condemned by the reformed clergy.
Soon after the Reformation, the Kirk-session of Aberdeen