LL-L "Folklore" 2002.09.02 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

=======================================================================
 L O W L A N D S - L * 02.SEP.2002 (01) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
 Web Site: <http://www.lowlands-l.net>, Email: <admin at lowlands-l.net>
 Rules & Guidelines: <http://www.lowlands-l.net/rules.htm>
 Posting Address: <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>
 Server Manual: <http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html>
 Archive: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html>
 =======================================================================
 You have received this because you have requested subsciption. To leave
 the list, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l" as message
 text from the same account to <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or
 sign off at <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
 =======================================================================
 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
 =======================================================================

From: Matthew McGrattan <matthew.mcgrattan at brasenose.oxford.ac.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Folklore" 2002.09.01 (07) [E]

> From: Andrys Onsman <Andrys.Onsman at CeLTS.monash.edu.au>
> Subject: LL-L "Folklore" 2002.08.30 (04) [E]
>
> To: Ross Ahlfeld
> Subject: Folklore
> From: Andrys Onsman
>
>  "In other parts of Scotland the term  "Guisin" is used"
>
> I think that guising might be from England rather than Scotland. Alan
> Garner has written a book called The Guiser, well worth reading if you
> can find a copy. His interest in and knowledge of his native Chesire
> area (partuclarly the village of Gostrey), including its language and
> customs makes each of his novels and his mummers' play fantastic
> reading.
>
> Best,
> Andrys Onsman

 From Matthew McGrattan:

In my part of Scotland (stirlingshire) the standard word was "guisin'".

The OED entry reads as below. Note that the 3rd sense is listed as being
primarily from Scotland and the North. So it would make sense that it
would be found in Cheshire as well as Scotland.

The etymology is from the Old French noun "guise": manner, method, way
or
style.

[a. OF. and F. guise, = Pr., It. guisa, of Teut. origin; cf. OHG. wîsa
(G.
  weise), OE. wîse WISE n.]

guise, v.

    1. trans. To attire, attire fantastically; dress, equip, ‘get up’.
Also in immaterial sense. arch.

  a1400 Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. 92 an ou gysed the gerne, and
gafe
e to goo Tyll Ephesyne. c1430 Syr Tryam. 660 When they harde of these
tythandys, They gysed them fulle gay. 1618 SIR W. MURE Dido & Aeneas II.
417 His curled head with Phrygian mytre guised. 1796 T. TOWNSHEND Poems
20
Guised just like her true love swain. 1821 J. BAILLIE Metr. Leg.,
Wallace
xix. 12 In that deceitful seeming guised. 1849 ROCK Ch. of Fathers III.
ix.
  220 Bands of children guised as Holy Innocents. 1882 Society 16 Dec.
5/2
The pawns..will be guised as choristers.

    b. To prepare, get up (an eatable). Obs.

  1604 PARSON 3rd Pt. Three Convers. Eng. 143 The same Coleworts sodden
againe, but guised after another fashion.

    c. To shape, assimilate to (such or such a guise). Obs. rare1.

  1605 SYLVESTER Du Bartas II. iii. I. Vocation 192 To guise our selves
(like counterfeiting Ape) To th' guise of Men that are but Men in shape.

    2. To disguise. Obs. exc. dial.

  a1510 DOUGLAS K. Hart II. 70 Len me thy cloke, to gys me for ane
quhyle.
  1893 Northumbld. Gloss., A man of notoriously dirty appearance asked
his
wife, ‘Hoo mun a gize mesel?’ ‘Wesh thee fyess’, was the prompt reply.

    3. intr. To go about in disguise, or in masquerade dress. Chiefly
Sc.
and north.

  1876 Mid-Yorksh. Gloss., Guise, to masquerade. 1884 Gd. Words Nov.
747/1
The youths of Lerwick, attired in fantastic dresses, go ‘guising’ about
the towns. 1891 N. & Q. XI. 82 [The phrase] is not an appropriate one in
the mouth of the Duke when he is guising as a monk.

    Hence guised ppl. a.

  1662 GREENHALGH in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. II. IV. 10 Hooded, guized,
veiled Jews, and my own plain bare self amongst them. a1851 J. BAILLIE
(Ogilvie), Then like a guised band, that for a while Has mimick'd forth
a
sad and gloomy tale.

----------

From: Thomas <t.mcrae at uq.net.au>
Subject: LL-L "Folklore" 2002.09.01 (07) [E]

on 2/9/02 11:42, Andrys.Onsman at CeLTS.monash.edu.au wrote:

> I think that guising might be from England rather than Scotland. Alan
> Garner has written a book called The Guiser, well worth reading if you
> can find a copy.
I doubt this as Guising is a Scottish custom not practised in England.
Some
connection may be claimed with the English Penny for the Guy where
English
kids went round with a dummy Guy Fawkes prior to November 5th soliciting
money for fireworks. Only Scotland had The Guisers and that should only
have
been on Halloween. Kids with clothing back to front and faces blackened
went
from door to door, singing, reciting poetry, playing mouth organs, etc
for
rewards of fruit and nuts and the odd coin or cake.
The kids carried 'neep lanterns' turnips hollowed out with an open face
through which the candle within shone. This Scottish custom took place
on
the old Samhain, the ancient Celtic New Year when spirits returned to
the
earth. The garb of the Guysers is alleged by some to represent the Other
World which the claim is a mirror image of ours.
It is interesting to note that October 31st is akin to Nov 5th in the
new
Gregorian calendar.
By the mid 1950's Guysing had deteriorated into street begging that
started
in September. The entertainment aspect was long gone. From some scottish
TV
movies of later ilk it would appear that the American Trick or Treat has
alas supplanted our ancient ways, even the neep lantern being replaced
by
the alien poumplin.
Regards
Tom
Tom Mc Rae PSOC
Brisbane Australia
"The masonnis suld mak housis stark and rude,
To keep the pepill frome the stormes strang,
And he that fals, the craft it gois all wrang."
>>From 15th century Scots Poem 'The Buke of the Chess'

==================================END===================================
 * Please submit postings to <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>.
 * Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
 * Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
 * Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
   to be sent to <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or at
   <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
 * Please use only Plain Text format, not Rich Text (HTML) or any other
   type of format, in your submissions
=======================================================================