The Evolution of the Contemporary Blackening
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8932089 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sheila M Young (corresponding author), Sheila Young (0000-0002-8102-0892) |
| Year | 2017 |
| Volume | 128 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 244-270 |
| Publication date | 2017-07-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Folklore (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0015-587X • E-ISSN: 1469-8315 |
| Publisher | Routledge (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/0015587x.2017.1327633 |
| OpenAlex | W2748369791 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 32 |
‘The blackening’ is a pre-nuptial rite of passage for men and women that takes the form of capturing, dirtying, and cleansing the bride and groom. I show that it evolved from an older ritual called the feet-washing. Scottish in origin, widespread as a feet-washing ritual, both in urban and rural settings, the blackening is now a predominantly rural tradition. Although it can and does occur for men anywhere in the country, it is mainly confined to northern and, particularly, north-east Scotland for women, and it is women who are the main focus of this article. I describe the contemporary blackening, before tracing its evolution. I then consider the form and function of blackening’s predecessor, the feet-washing, before discussing how and why it evolved to become the ritual it is today
Aesthetics · Ancient history · Art · Ethnology · Focus (optics · Political science · Rite · Rite of passage · Sociology · Anthropology · Fashion and Cultural Textiles · Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies · Gender Studies · Geographies of human-animal interactions · History · Law
All day, every day
Marriage and society
The Culture of Excess
Deeply into the Bone
The German People and the Reformation.
As contributions to this section, the Editors welcome comment and debate on topical issues or on recent articles or reviews appearing in the journal. Shorter accessibly written items of general interest, reports on work in progress, notes and queries are also welcome.Colour Symbolism in Turkish and Azeri Folk Literature
Something Old, Something Bold
Make the Night Hideous
Ritual in Early Modern Europe
Charivaris, Cowbellions, and Sheet Iron Bands
Tar and Feathers
Gender, resistance and play
Tar, Feathers, and the Enemies of American Liberties, 1768-1776
Black Luck
The Embodiment of Social Life
Colour Symbolism in the Folk Literature of the Caucasus
Folklore and Symbolism of Green
Colour Symbolism
New Old-Fashioned Ways
Marriage Customs in Cromarty
Treatment of Hair and Fingernails among the Indo-Europeans
The Bachelor's Transgression
New Old-Fashioned Ways
Masks and Mumming in the Nordic Area
The Ritual Process
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |