The Quaich Ritual

“A sker thais dram fur tae shaw it’s ma ettle tae sker ma lyfe an ma hert wi you, the day, the morn and ayways.”

Let’s talk about the Quaich ritial.

Whether it’s whisky, gin, prosecco or Scotland’s other national drink… good old Irn Bru, sharing a dram from the quaich is one of the most popular rituals asked for in an ‘Aye Do’ ceremony.

But what is it? And what does it mean in Ceremony?

For centuries the quaich; a two-handed (or two lugs) cup usually made of wood or pewter, has been used in Scotland as a way of welcoming people into your home (usually after a long and weary journey to get there), as a way of bidding people farewell (to keep them warm on the long journey home!), and as a way of sealing a contract or agreement. In other words, sharing a dram from the quaich usually meant more than just having a drink.

Like all symbolic rituals, the Quaich Ceremony points past itself to a much deeper meaning, in this case… kinship; union and word of honour.

During a Ceremony when a couple share a sip from the Quaich they are making a promise to share their lives with each other, but they are also acknowledging the importance of family and community, and that’s why family members and/or guests are often included in the quaich ceremony.

But there are other hidden meanings in the Quaich ritual such as, “Trust & Integrity”.

Hundreds of years ago, when almost everyone outside your own clan was a foe, and people had to be on their guard in case some cheeky wee clansman stuck a sword in your belly or added a wee dash of poison to your whisky… if you were willing to share a drink from the same quaich as someone else, it meant you had complete trust in them. And by taking a sip from a Quaich and offering it to someone else, you were saying, “I’m drinking it to show you it’s not poisoned. Therefore, you can trust me.”

Not only that, but by holding the quaich with both hands, this meant you weren’t holding your sword and so were leaving yourself vulnerable to attack from others. So again, if you were holding a Quaich you were displaying complete trust in the person standing in front of you. For me this is the most meaningful symbology behind the Quaich, because that’s what we do in a marriage. We allow ourselves to be completely vulnerable in front of another, and we trust that they will not betray us, but instead will hold us in our vulnerability.

Rituals like the Quaich Ceremony speak to us of another time, of particular events, of old traditions and stories passed down through the years. And by taking part in these ancient rituals it’s as if we are standing in the presence of all those who have gone before.

So if you are lucky enough to see a couple share a dram from the Quaich, know that they’re not just having a sip of whisky, they are walking in the steps of all those who have gone before, and are making promises at a level far more powerful than any of us can understand.

Fairfaw

Lindy