Rainbow's End

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s set, lead down (4 bars), set turning inward to face each other
9-16 1s lead up, cross and cast and turn LH to face 1st corners (2s step up 13-14)
17-24 1s set to and turn 1st corner 2H, set to and turn 2nd corner 2H, finish in 2nd place opposite sides
25-32 2s+1s+3s advance and retire; all turn RH to own side (1s turn 1½ RH). 213

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

Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams

Rainbow's End - Full Size And Key To Symbols

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Dance Information

Its origin is rooted in the imagery of a rainbow touching the ground, which, in reality, never occurs due to the optical nature of rainbows. This idea of an unattainable endpoint has led to the metaphorical use of "Rainbow's End" to describe aspirations or objectives that may be challenging to achieve or may even be impossible. Another commonly used, related idiom, is "the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow".

The idiom has been embraced in various cultural contexts, literature, and colloquial language to signify the pursuit of dreams, happiness, or success that may remain elusive. It is often employed to express the notion that the journey or pursuit itself may be more valuable than the actual attainment of the desired goal.

Culturally, the concept of a rainbow has been associated with symbolism and mythology in different societies, further contributing to the metaphorical richness of the expression. While the idiom does not have a universal or fixed meaning, its use conveys the idea of a distant or intangible objective.