Yan Tan Tethera

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

YAN TAN TETHERA (J8x32) 3C (4C set) D Haynes Carnforth Coll 2

1- 8 1s cross RH, cast 1 place, 1L dances a ½ Fig of 8 round 2s while 1M dances ½ Fig of 8 round 3s
9-16 1s change places RH with 1st corners, corners turn LH in centre and return to place giving RH to 1s who turn LH to face 2nd corners
17-24 1s repeat 9-16 with 2nd corners and end turning partner LH ¾ to face 1st corner
25-32 1s dance reels of 3 on opposite sides giving LSh to 1st corners and cross to 2nd place own sides

(MINICRIB, Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton. Deeside Caledonian Society.)

Dance Information

Yan Tan Tethera is a rhyme used by shepherds to count sheep in many parts of England and in southern Scotland.

Until the Industrial Revolution, the use of traditional number systems was common among shepherds, especially in the dales of the Lake District. The Yan Tan Tethera system was also used for counting stitches in knitting.

Though most of these number systems fell out of use by 1910, many are still in use and the word yan continues to mean "one" in some northern English dialects.

Here is 1 to 20 as used in Swaledale

1    Yan
2    Tan
3    Tether
4    Mether
5    Pip
6    Azer
7    Sezar
8    Akker
9    Conter
10   Dick
11   Yanadick
12   Tanadick
13   Tetheradick
14   Metheradick
15   Bumfit
16   Yanabum
17   Tanabum
18   Tetherabum
19   Metherabum
20   Jigget

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