Post by Geoff on Jan 12, 2012 9:02:53 GMT -5
How often have we heard it said?
"THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATTER"
(See Icons: burnscorridor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=12 )
When you look at the Icon List it may make you wonder: is there some elixir of wisdom, innovation & intuition mixed within the flower?
Just to mix you up completely, I'll tell you about the local Nokk:
NIDD NOKK NICHT
What is the "NIDD NOKK"?
NIDD---------------Nith River (New River)
NOKK---------------River Sprite
SLIDDERY-----------Slippery
BAWK---------------Aul' Scots for: Path Through Crops.
NIDD NOKK NICHT: An annual festival of light, with torchlight processions, covering the length of the Nith Valley (Niddesdale). On the weekend nearest the anniversary of Burns' death, or the Wickerman festival in July. Beacons are lit along the Nidd from source to sea. The main character is the Nidd Nokk which lives within the Sliddery Bawk of south west Scotland. Born in days of legend on the heights of Enoch.
Beacons are lit on the banks by every town and village community.
Every youth within the Nith Valley gets the chance to use their imagination and their hands, designing a NOKK (river sprite) in local competitions. Each town and village choses a winner which is then made "life size" of wicker or willow by an artist. These "NOKKS" are then taken to the Banks of Nith near their town/village and set alight: think Wickerman Festival but all along a river.
During the Summer Holidays youngsters can make willow rings which will form the body of the Nokk. The more rings, the bigger (louder) the Nokk.
[The Nith may be comparable to the Nidd,.....
Earliest spellings for the Nith refer to Nithsdale:
Stranit c1124, Stradnitt, 1124-40;
Stranith, 1192-98;
Strathnith, 1195-99;
aquam de Nid, 1161-74.]
www.spns.org.uk/MayWilliamsonComplete.pdf
In 2009 an effigy of Tam O'Shanter was burned on the river Nith, Dumfries during Homecoming celebrations and I thought it would make sense to use the same effigy for a NOKK ceremony beginning at New CumNOKK in Upper Nithsdale. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpmshaUuVYY
"THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATTER"
(See Icons: burnscorridor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=12 )
When you look at the Icon List it may make you wonder: is there some elixir of wisdom, innovation & intuition mixed within the flower?
Just to mix you up completely, I'll tell you about the local Nokk:
NIDD NOKK NICHT
What is the "NIDD NOKK"?
NIDD---------------Nith River (New River)
NOKK---------------River Sprite
SLIDDERY-----------Slippery
BAWK---------------Aul' Scots for: Path Through Crops.
NIDD NOKK NICHT: An annual festival of light, with torchlight processions, covering the length of the Nith Valley (Niddesdale). On the weekend nearest the anniversary of Burns' death, or the Wickerman festival in July. Beacons are lit along the Nidd from source to sea. The main character is the Nidd Nokk which lives within the Sliddery Bawk of south west Scotland. Born in days of legend on the heights of Enoch.
Beacons are lit on the banks by every town and village community.
NIDD NOKK NICHT
Nidd Nokk, sliddery bawk, somethin' in the watter,
Scary een, that's rarely seen, will mak yer wallies chatter.
They pierce the nicht, an' gie such fricht,
Nerves plucking Pizzicatter:
Its breath's obscene, its vision keen,
Ye'd best tae flee than flatter.
Nidd Nokk, sliddery bawk, ye'll stert tae get the feelin',
Somethin's there, ye feel its stare, butterflees are reelin'.
Twa rid slits flash, was that a splash?
Am shair ther's somethin' stealin',
It soondit close, it's somethin' gross,
It's there! It's here! You're squeelin'!!!!!
Nidd Nokk, sliddery bawk, we'd walked & talked the gether,
The nicht did please, we'd felt at ease, ye cannae bate a blether.
A silent break, sa' that it takes,
To change from pleasant weather,
We quickened pace, and asked for grace,
Aw runnin', Hell for leather.
Nidd Nokk, sliddery bawk, oor lungs were fit fur burstin'
Wi' legs lik leed, we loast wur speed, nae breath wis left fur cursin'.
We aw' fell doon, an' looked aroon, Nae sicht, nae soon', nae' nothin'.
“But whit's that smell? Can you no' tell?
The Nidd Nokk's braith: it's thurstin'.”
Nidd Nokk, sliddery bawk, we're aulder noo and shrewder,
But when we walk along the bawk, wur checkin' ow'r wur shooder?
Wis that a troot the Nith spat oot? Or a maybe an intruder?
A glowr, a stare, "there's nothin' there"
That maks the murmur looder?
Nidd Nokk, sliddery bawk, fae Enoch Hill tae Solway,
The Nithsdale sprite in daurk respite, lichts shadowed fears we aw’ hae,
Build frames tae flame, make it a game,
midsummer, warm or caul’ day.
In fire-clay urns oor Rabbie Burns',
Connels doon the hallway.
Nidd Nokk, sliddery bawk, somethin' in the watter,
Scary een, that's rarely seen, will mak yer wallies chatter.
They pierce the nicht, an' gie such fricht,
Nerves plucking Pizzicatter:
Its breath's obscene, its vision keen,
Ye'd best tae flee than flatter.
Nidd Nokk, sliddery bawk, ye'll stert tae get the feelin',
Somethin's there, ye feel its stare, butterflees are reelin'.
Twa rid slits flash, was that a splash?
Am shair ther's somethin' stealin',
It soondit close, it's somethin' gross,
It's there! It's here! You're squeelin'!!!!!
Nidd Nokk, sliddery bawk, we'd walked & talked the gether,
The nicht did please, we'd felt at ease, ye cannae bate a blether.
A silent break, sa' that it takes,
To change from pleasant weather,
We quickened pace, and asked for grace,
Aw runnin', Hell for leather.
Nidd Nokk, sliddery bawk, oor lungs were fit fur burstin'
Wi' legs lik leed, we loast wur speed, nae breath wis left fur cursin'.
We aw' fell doon, an' looked aroon, Nae sicht, nae soon', nae' nothin'.
“But whit's that smell? Can you no' tell?
The Nidd Nokk's braith: it's thurstin'.”
Nidd Nokk, sliddery bawk, we're aulder noo and shrewder,
But when we walk along the bawk, wur checkin' ow'r wur shooder?
Wis that a troot the Nith spat oot? Or a maybe an intruder?
A glowr, a stare, "there's nothin' there"
That maks the murmur looder?
Nidd Nokk, sliddery bawk, fae Enoch Hill tae Solway,
The Nithsdale sprite in daurk respite, lichts shadowed fears we aw’ hae,
Build frames tae flame, make it a game,
midsummer, warm or caul’ day.
In fire-clay urns oor Rabbie Burns',
Connels doon the hallway.
Every youth within the Nith Valley gets the chance to use their imagination and their hands, designing a NOKK (river sprite) in local competitions. Each town and village choses a winner which is then made "life size" of wicker or willow by an artist. These "NOKKS" are then taken to the Banks of Nith near their town/village and set alight: think Wickerman Festival but all along a river.
During the Summer Holidays youngsters can make willow rings which will form the body of the Nokk. The more rings, the bigger (louder) the Nokk.
[The Nith may be comparable to the Nidd,.....
Earliest spellings for the Nith refer to Nithsdale:
Stranit c1124, Stradnitt, 1124-40;
Stranith, 1192-98;
Strathnith, 1195-99;
aquam de Nid, 1161-74.]
www.spns.org.uk/MayWilliamsonComplete.pdf
In 2009 an effigy of Tam O'Shanter was burned on the river Nith, Dumfries during Homecoming celebrations and I thought it would make sense to use the same effigy for a NOKK ceremony beginning at New CumNOKK in Upper Nithsdale. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpmshaUuVYY