10 ceilidh rules [complete and uncensored] part 2

6. Don't wear a dress with a colour scheme that is in any way ambiguous (or do, because you'll become famous).

No, just joking. Here are the real ones.

6. Go easy on the booze.

Yes, alcohol consumption tends to be an important part of most people's ceilidh experience, especially at bigger annual-type ones. And I'm not gonna lie, being a bit tipsy can often be helpful, especially in situations such as #5 in my previous post. Just don't overdo it! That Strip the Willow is going to make your head spin anyway and you don't want to end up on the toilet floor. Just stick to the golden "every third drink a soft drink" rule. You'll need water as well as you'll be dehydrated! Not being completely wasted also often (but not always) prevents injuries.

7. If possible, limit the amount of valuables you bring with you.

The typical handbag-at-ceilidh experience is that you'll get asked to dance, throw your handbag somewhere without much thought and then spend the next hour in agony looking for it, only to finally find it buried under a mountain of jackets. So yeah, though you'll usually find your handbag, the experience will be less stressful if you leave like, credit cards and stuff at home. The guys are quite lucky to have their sporrans!

8. Don't arrive too late!

There are few things more gutting than spending too much time pre-drinking (which you shouldn't overdo anyway, see rule 6) or getting ready or whatever and arriving at around 10.52, in time for the raffle, realising that you've missed over half of the ceilidh. (Tomorrow's one goes on until 3 am though, so that shouldn't be an issue here!)

9. Strip the Willow

This dance probably deserves its own set of rules. I don't really know what to say, just keep your knees and ankles in mind since they're easily sprainable (needless to say, it was during a StW I sprained my knee a few a years ago, see previous post). Once at Sabhal Mor Ostaig I also got someone's elbow in my face and was pretty sure I'd broken my nose - I hadn't though, luckily. (Though, honestly, I think Strip the Willow at Sabhal Mor Ostaig deserves its own particular set of rules...)
So yeah, just be careful. The bruises are part of the game though!

I'm realising now that to those of you unfamiliar with the subject this must sound like a violent fight or something. Haha. It sort of is. But I promise you, it's fun too!

10. Be prepared to be sore the next couple of days.

Ceilidh is exercise! No gym classes or even half marathons have ever made me as sore as a proper ceilidh session! The soreness usually kicks in about two-three days after the big night and it's usually your calves, and funnily enough, abdominal muscles that will hurt the most.
But if that is the case don't despair, since you know you did it right! ;)



That's the end of my ceilidh rules. Hope you've enjoyed reading and if you're in or around Edinburgh, come to the Highland Annual tomorrow night!