A Christmas Ceilidh

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s+2s advance and retire 2 steps and turn RH to end facing the top
9-16 1s+2s Allemande
17-24 1s+3s RH across and LH across
25-32 1s dance up to top, cast behind 2s, dance down below 3s and cast up to 2nd place
33-40 2s+1s+3s circle 6H round and back

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

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

A Christmas Ceilidh - Full Size And Key To Symbols

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Dance Information

The word ceilidh, meaning a visit or social event, originally referred to occasions of storytelling, poetry, and song, but by the nineteenth century it had become closely associated with dancing. At Christmas, the ceilidh takes on a seasonal character, often featuring reels, jigs, and strathspeys performed to traditional instruments such as fiddles, accordions, and pipes. The dances are usually simple enough for beginners to join, with a caller guiding participants through the steps, making the event inclusive and suitable for all ages.

These celebrations are held in community halls, schools, or local venues, and they serve both as entertainment and as a way of preserving cultural heritage. The Christmas ceilidh often includes festive touches such as seasonal decorations, traditional food, and carols alongside the dancing. It remains a popular way of marking the holiday season in Scotland, Ireland, and among diaspora communities, blending the joy of Christmas with the communal spirit of traditional dance and music.

"Her First Ceilidh" James Stephenson Craig (1854–1870), Oil On Canvas, c. Before 1871

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