Fascinating Mummies in Edinburgh

The National Museum of Scotland showcases ancient Egyptian treasures dating as far as 4000BC in this exhibition bringing together two of the world's great collections.

Fascinating Mummies (11 February - 27 May

 

Saints & Sinners goes Dutch

3 Dutch groups over the weekend experienced Edinburgh via an S&S tour !! One of the groups is Marne College, this is their fifth year of using S&S. They were all tall and had difficulty entering a crypt in Greyfriars Kirkyard, in our search for tales about graverobbers!!!

Story of the week from Neil Conn (Saints & Sinners guide)

‘Indian Peter’ is a story of abduction, war, revenge and courtroom drama that takes place in Scotland and the USA. It is an inspiring true story of courage fortitude and one man’s determination to survive against seemingly insurmountable odds and his fight to expose the vial Scottish trade of child abduction and white slavery.

This is the remarkable true story of Peter Williamson, a Scottish man, who in 1743 at the age of 13, was kidnapped from an Aberdeen quay side and transported to the American colonies to be sold into indentured servitude. He was one of the ‘surplus poor’ that fell into the hands of a group of unscrupulous magistrates, town clerks, merchants and ships masters. Peter adventures began when he was taken to America on a sailing vessel that foundered and was wrecked off the Delaware coast. Peter was saved and ended up in Philadelphia where he was sold as an indentured slave. Peter was fortunate to be bought by a humane Scottish man who left him money when he died. Peter later married the daughter of a landowner and was gifted a farm. 

 
In 1754, during the French-Indian wars, Peter’s farm was attacked and burned by Lenape Indians and his wife was brutally murdered. He was captured by the Indians who tortured him, and forced him to travel with them as a slave. After escaping he joined the British Army to fight the French and their savage Indian allies, and avenged the murder of his wife by killing the Lenape Indian Chief who had tortured him. At the later battle of Oswego, his regiment was forced to surrender to the French and he was taken to Canada as a prisoner of war. 

 
He was taken to England on a French ship and exchanged for French prisoners of war. After he was freed he made his way back to Scotland and tracked down the men who were responsible for his initial abduction. He took them to court in a landmark case accusing them publicly and exposed the scandal of child abduction and white Scottish slave trading. Peter settled in Edinburgh and became a publican, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. He developed Edinburgh’s first Penny Post system and launched a weekly magazine, and shamelessly exploited his fame as an American Indian fighter for profit.

Another Stompin Guid Ceilidh

Ceilidh's are the best way to meet lots of lovely people very quickly - join us, its brilliant fun!

We have -

•  Canned Haggis Ceilidh Band
•  Licenced Bar
•  Welcome table if you are new
•  No need to know the dances as they
•  Doors open 7.30pm - 11pm
• Tickets £9 sold at any Mojo event or £9.50 via paypal (50p Paypal charge)
• The Lauriston Hall is just fabulous, we can make it light and airey (if we twiddle with the right knobs)
•  

This is a charity ceilidh, proceeds from this event will be going to two events we are supporting Malawi Bike Ride & The Edinburgh Moonwalk. Several members of this group are taking part in.

There will be a raffle at this event, if you have any idea's for brilliant prizes or are willing to donate one please let us know.

 Please note early start and early finish 7.30 - 11 pm. We will head to a local bar afterwards.

Last 4 Mojo ceilidh's have sold out!! Lets make it 5.

21st April 2012 - Lauriston Hall - 7.30 -11pm

28 Lauriston St Edinburgh 0131-229-9821

Tickets (£9 )available @ http://www.meetup.com/EdinburghMojo/events/53474082/

Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival - 30 April 2012.

The modern Beltane Fire Festival is inspired by the ancient Gaelic festival of Beltane which began on the evening before May 1 and marked the beginning of summer. The festival has over 300 voluntary collaborators and performers with the 12,000 available tickets selling out.

While the festival draws on a variety of historical, mythological and literary influences, the organisers do not claim it to be anything other than a modern celebration of Beltane, evolving with its participants.

Look out for the variety of characters on show too, like the magisterial May Queen and the red men, who give the event a wholly otherworldly feel. It's as if the creatures from Pan's Labyrinth grew sick of Spain and came to Scotland for their holidays, losing clothes and gaining an excitable fearlessness along the way.

Beltane website: www.beltane.org

Dark tales from Old Edinburgh - Two more Witches Confess

The god fearing citizens of Edinburgh were once again spared Satan’s curse yesterday as 2 more witches were burned on Castle hill.  The women, both from East Lothian, were found Guilty under the Witchcraft Act to the relief of dozens of citizens who heard disturbing accounts of their sorcery.  In the first case, it was alleged that Agnes Sampson, a catholic spinster from Haddington, danced naked with Satan himself in North Berwick’s Kirk along with other charges related to treason and attempts to bewitch our god fearing King James.  Sampson initially denied all charges, but God’s judgement prevailed against her in the Nor Loch whereupon after being thrown in the witch surfaced and continued to breathe to the horror of the many onlookers who watched the trial.  Rightfully, Sampson was found guilty of all charges and throttled before being despatched to God’s judgment at the stake.   The judgement was cheered by onlookers whose relief at the verdict was only too easy to see as Sampson’s burned at the stake. 

In a related case Mary Laird, a catholic from Prestonpans, was heard to curse a neighbouring farmer John Hastie’s cows after a heated argument last week in a nearby field.  It was alleged that dairy produce from the Hastie farm was subsequently affected, customers reporting sour milk and tainted dairy produce.   Laird’s trail in Edinburgh on Monday was conducted amid angry scenes as the Court heard further evidence of Laird’s heresy from 4 notes deposited in the witches box by local residents at Prestonpans Kirk.  Despite this overwhelming evidence, Laird continued to deny all charges.  Her case was remitted to further interrogation under the bridle, the Judge confirming that Laird confessed to all charges as the Lord’s crucifix bit deeply into her mouth and head.  Despatching her to God’s judgement on Castle Hill onlookers reported her body resisting the flames for several minutes before justice prevailed and she burned quickly, her cries for forgiveness met with screams of approval from many in the crowd.

Edinburgh a tale of two towns

Edinburgh is a city of stark contrasts, on one side we have the Old Town, dominated by a medieval fortress; and on the other a neoclassical New Town. These two contrasting historic areas are what give the city its unique character.

On our tour we will reveal a city rich in culture and ancient history and blessed with beauty and mystery. We will tell you stories that bring the past and its people vividly to life as we stroll along the narrow streets of the Old Town, revealing the secrets that lie hidden in its dark closes. Accompany us to Edinburgh’s elegant Georgian 'new town' creating a unique blend of ancient and modern architecture, to get a sense of Edinburgh moving into a more modern enlightened and commercial era.

This tour provides a familiarisation of the city centre as we inform you of various attractions along the way, which helps you plan the rest of your stay, in other words a fantastic introduction to the city.

Tuesday – Saturday @ 11am,

Duration 1hr 45 mins, Cost £8.50 Cons - £7.50

Tours start from  - Greyfriars Bobby Bar – 34 Candlemaker Row , EH1 2QE

Contact - 07803475688 -

E-mail: Phamrun@aol.com