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Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 22:14:48 +0000
From: David Kilpatrick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Subject: Re: [scots-l] Gay Gordons fact/fiction
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Re all this:
>
> Thanks, Hugh! I just "threaded" my way through those 60 e-mails & did find
> two bits of interesting historical information. In case this has raised the
> interest of anyone who might not have time to do the same, I thought I'd
> pass them along, with a request for still more historical information if
> anybody has it:
>
> >I think legend has it that the dance got its original name from the looks
> of the Gordon Highlanders' uniform.
>
> >Sometimes it is spelled Gey or Gei or similar variant. The "Gordons" is a
> military unit (Remember the song "Here's tae the Gordons"?). In this
> context Gay does not mean "happy", it means "fierce".
>
> One further note: I understand now that the Gay Gordons are a military
> unit, but I do believe they are also a Highland clan, so would love some
> info on whether the two are related, how that happened & to which the song
> is pertinent, if anyone knows.
The military unit is The Gordon Highlanders and I don't think they ever
call themselves the Gay Gordons.
The town of Gordon is actually in the Scottish Borders, about as far
from the heartland of the Gordon clan as you can get. This is where the
Gordon family originally held land; the Highland estates were granted to
them, and being extremely prolific (aka violent rapists!) they populated
a large area and created many branches, half at each other's throats
when they were not at someone else's.
The 'Gey' or 'gei' is a red herring if this year's newspaper reports
from the North East are to be believed; 'gey' could not really mean
fierce, or indeed anything (it means 'very') but apparently the dance
was being re-labelled with this deliberate mis-spelling, since some
people were concerned that 'gay' now means homosexual and not
'colourfully kilted out'.
It did not mean 'happy' either - it meant finely dressed. When an old
folk song says 'there came a lady gay' it doens't mean she was grinning,
it means she was attractively dressed, especially in a colourful,
extravagant fashion. The 'gay goshawk' of that song is not an
unreasonably joyful raptor (ever seen one?), it's a bird in fine plumage
and of magnificant appearance. The word has gone through three stages of
meaning - first referring to apparel and the manner which goes with it,
then to the mood associated with dressing up for a dance or festivity,
and finally the new meaning.
The 'gay Gordons' ephiphet referred, apparently, to the courtly Norman
manners and style of dress which this very un-Scottish family brought to
the wild lands of the North East where they were relocated - courtly
styles of dress and behaviour. As in Jean of Bethelny ('Glenlogie'),
where the young Gordon lord she fancies is described as doing a sort of
pirouette on his horse to look back at her - 'as the gay Gordons do'.
And of course, the dance echoes this reputation for spirited, colourful,
courtly manners - the clan probably relished their reputation as lovers,
fighters, gallants etc.
None of this is definitely true, of course, it's just what I've read and
gathered from whatever 'authorities' care to write notes in books of
ballads. Since these are rarely accompanied by learned references they
could all be made up. But the story seems consistent enough.
As for the military unit it's not an interest of mine but I believe it
stems from one particular Gordon and the usual business of raising a
force almost privately, then seeing it become part of the British Army
and keep its name. No doubt there's an expert with the exact military
story out there.
David
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