The Luckenbooth Brooch
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
THE LUCKENBOOTH BROOCH (J8x32) 3C (4C set) John Bowie Dickson Glendarroch Sheets 28 and RSCDS book 531- 8 1s in prom hold (Lady on Man's left) dance reel of 3 with 2s (RSh to 2M) and end facing 3M
9-16 1s dance reel with 3s (RSh to 3M) ending with 1s dancing into centre facing Men's side
17-24 1M casts up and 1L down into centre and dance out Ladies' side, 1M cast up and 1L down to end 1M between 2s facing down and 1L+3s face up as 2s+3s dance R&L
25-32 2s+1s+3s set twice, 1s turn RH 1¾ times to 2nd places
Note: 2nd time through bars 29-32: 1s turn ¾ RH and dance down to 4th place (4s step up)
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
The Luckenbooth Brooch
John Bowie Dickson Glendarroch Scottish Dance Sheets
Jig 8 x 32 bars 3 Couple Repeat 4 Couple Set Longwise Set
1-8 1s take promenade hold (L on M's left) for reel of 3 with 2s, giving right shoulder to 2M to start, 2s finishing in 1st place, 1s, retaining hold, in the centre;
9-16 1s repeat bars 1-8 with 3s, finishing facing out on Mn's side;
17-24 2s3s rights and lefts WHILE 1s lead out of Mn's side, cast (L down, M up), meet, lead out of Ls' side and cast, finishing L between 3s facing up, M between 2s facing down;
25-28 2M1M2L 3M1L3L set facing, twice;
29-32 1s turn by the right 1¾ times.
(MAXICRIB. Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle)
Dance Notes
1- 1s must move quickly since no time is allocated for them to take promenade hold at the beginning of the reel. The flow at the beginning of the reel of 3 is better if 2M 2L cast up to start.
8-9 1s flow from the first reel of 3 straight into the second.
9- The flow at the beginning of the reel of 3 is better if 3M 3L cast up to start.
17-24 1s dance figures of eight across (M round 2s position, 1L round 3s position), taking nearer hands when they lead out of the sides; 1s don't cross as they lead out.
29-32 In the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th repeats, 1s finish in promenade hold, L on M's left, facing 3M (who will be 2M in the next repeat). In the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th repeats, 1s turn by the right ¾ only and lead down to 4th place of the full set WHILE 3s step up.
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Instruction Videos
The Luckenbooth Brooch - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
Luckenbooths were shops in Edinburgh, situated on the Royal Mile from St Giles' Cathedral down towards the Canongate. They were the city's first permanent shops that housed jewellery workers and other trades, dating from the 16th century.The luckenbooth brooch is a traditional Scottish wedding brooch given to the bride by the groom on their wedding day, and subsequently pinned to the shawl of the first baby to protect it from "evil spirits".
The luckenbooth brooch has figures very similar to the Claddagh ring, and a similar purpose of being a love token. The luckenbooth charm also continues the traditional theme of heart and crown. The earliest records of heart-shaped brooches in Scotland date back to 1503. In the 18th century, these brooches were often known as 'Luckenbooth' brooches because they were sold from locked booths in the jewellery quarter of St. Giles.
Another legend of the luckenbooth is that it was a symbol of love and devotion, which Mary Queen of Scots is said to have given to Lord Darnley. It has the St. Andrew Cross, the Scottish thistles, and entwined hearts.
The Tain and District Museum, Easter Ross, Scotland, houses a particularly fine 18th Century Luckenbooth Brooch.
Silver Scottish Luckenbooth Brooches 18th To 20th Centuries
Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Luckenbooth Brooch article on Wikipedia.
Image copyright Walker14806, Creative Commons Licence 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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