Sam's Butter Churn

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1L+2M set and change places RH while 1M+2L change places RH and set; repeat back to place
9-12 2s followed by 1s lead down (2 bars) then dance ½ RH across
13-16 2s followed by 1s dance up nearer hands joined and out to opposite sides, 2s face out, 2s+1s turn nearer hands (Ladies LH, Men RH)
17-24 2s+1s set and dance "La Baratte":
 19-20 Man ½ turns opposite Lady RH and retains hand but at arm's length from each other
 21-22 Man retraces steps with Lady turning right under Man's arm briefly into Allemande hold (Man behind Lady facing Ladies' original place) and releasing Ladies' RH she turns under Man's left arm until almost in original places
 23-24 Couple change places LH to opposite places. 2 1
25-32 2s+1s dance R&L. 2 1

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

Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams

Sam's Butter Churn - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Information

Historically, it played a pivotal role in domestic and agricultural settings, particularly during periods when manual churning was prevalent. The device typically consists of a cylindrical container with a handle, allowing users to agitate the cream and separate the butterfat from the liquid components.

The churning process involves repeated vertical or horizontal movements of the handle, causing the cream to undergo physical changes that lead to the formation of butter. While machines now do most of the butter making, old-fashioned butter churns are still important because they show how food making has changed over time.

A Butter Churn

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