A Scottish Night in Colorado: My First Ceilidh

As a lover of Celtic culture, finding a ceilidh in my area was a dream come true. The St Andrew Society of Colorado hosted a ceilidh to celebrate St Andrew’s Day. I dedicated myself to going and seeing what it was like. As someone who barely knew the dances or etiquette, I was a little nervous, but I was welcomed with open arms. 

The country club was a beautiful venue. As you walked through the doors into the room, you saw big circular tables, a small bar, and a dance floor with a podium. I caught up with friends and met some new ones while waiting for the food to be served. I was pleasantly surprised at what was served. It was a Mediterranean-style spread with lemon chicken, falafels, kabobs, and much more. As we were eating, there were amazing youth performances from the youth pipe band and dancers. They absolutely killed it and were a good representation of how Scottish culture still continues among younger generations. 

After the performances and the awards ceremony, the dancing started. Gillian Faith, the Vice President, gave a beginner demonstration, and then we led into the dance. Four dances were taught: the Gay Gordons, Strip the Willow, Military Two-Step, and Dashing White Sergeant. It was a fun time full of mistakes, met with laughter and joy. The Dashing White Sergeant was especially complicated, with six people in a circle, and you had to switch to another group of three and make a new circle at one point. We ended the night by gathering in a circle and singing Auld Lang Syne. This night was an experience I will never forget, a night when I got to experience a new culture and see the preservation of traditions. If you ever have the opportunity to go to a ceilidh, say yes, I promise you will not forget it.