The Mercat Cross (Attwood)
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
THE MERCAT CROSS (J8x32) 3C (4C set) Jean Attwood Alexander Book 41- 8 1s set, cast 1 place, 1s lead down between 3s and cast up to 2nd place own side
9-16 1s turn 1st corners RH, pass RSh, turn 2nd corners RH and pas-de-basque in to end BtoB facing opposite sides
17-24 1s dance Crown Triangles and ΒΌ turn to right to end Man facing up and Lady facing down
25-32 1s dance reels of 3 on opposite sides (RSh to 2nd corner to start) and cross RH to 2nd places
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Information
Also see the dance Mercat Cross (Dickson) by John Bowie Dickson.Also see the dance Mercat Cross (Priddey) by Barry Priddey.
Also see the dance Mercat Cross (Skelton) by Barry Skelton.
A mercat cross is a market cross found in Scottish cities and towns where trade and commerce was a part of economic life. It was originally a place where merchants would gather, and later became the focal point of many town events such as executions, announcements and proclamations. To this day several important announcements and proclamations are still ceremonially made at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh, including the calling of general elections and the succession of new monarchs.
Despite the name, the typical mercat cross is not actually cruciform - variations range from a short pole stuck in the ground to the grand pillar rising out of the "cross house" in Edinburgh.
One Of The Finest Examples Of A Mercat Cross Is In Inverkeithing In Fife
Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Mercat Cross article on Wikipedia.
Image copyright Kilnburn.
Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'The Mercat Cross (Attwood)' page