We've all seen the haggis being piped in at Burns Dinners. The piper leads and the procession includes the chef, carrying the haggis, followed by someone with the carving utensils, and finally, the bearer of the quaich, which contains a dram for the piper. Did you ever wonder why it's in a quaich, and not just a glass? Here is a little history of the quaich.
A quaich is a special kind of shallow two-handled drinking cup or bowl in Scotland. It derives from the Scottish Gaelic cuach meaning a cup.
According to the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, the quaich was inspired by the low silver bowls with two flat handles frequently used as bleeding vessels in England and Holland in the 17th century.
Traditionally they were made of wood, an art form known as "treen". Quaichs often have different colors and are supported by hoops. They are generally fitted with two, and, more rarely, three short projecting handles. In addition to wood, they are made of stone, brass, pewter, horn, and of silver. The latter were often engraved with lines and bands in imitation of the staves and hoops of the wooden quaichs.
The origin of quaichs in Scotland is traced to the Highlands; it was not until the end of the 17th century that they became popular in such large cities as Edinburgh and Glasgow. The silversmiths of such local gilds as Inverness and Perth frequently mounted them in silver, as may be seen from the hall-marks on the existing examples.
Commemorative quaichs awarded as prizes, or given as gifts, are more commonly made of pewter or silver. These prize cups are rarely used for actual drinking.
The English and Colonial American counterpart of the Scottish quaich is the porringer, made with a single handle. Swedish equivalents are the pahkakuppi and the kåsa, which also only have a single handle.
In 1745 that quaich had travelled from Edinburgh to Derby with the Scottish Army in Bonnie Prince Charlie's canteen.
Some quaich's bottoms are made of glass, allegedly so that the drinker could keep watch on his companions. A more romantic quaich had a double glass bottom in which was kept a lock of hair so that the owner could drink from his quaich to his lady love, and, in 1589, King James VI of Scotland gave Anne of Denmark a quaich or "loving cup" as a wedding gift. (This information comes from Wikipedia.)
THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE IN SCOTLAND ...
Of the numerous wonderful places in our beloved "auld" country, when your visit
includes "Edina" (Edinburgh's obscure "nick-name"), and, most likely St. Andrew's, as well, you might want to take
a ¾ day-trip venture off the grassless path to travel the unlikely East Neuk "Hook"!
The "Hook", as you might know, is actually the east coast shoreline tip of Fife that pokes out into the North Sea. While staying in the St. Andrews area, hitting the Hook will start you south out of St. A's down along the coast. You'll pass through Bearhills, then stop at Cambo Arms Hotel for an early pub-lunch or brunch-pint (owner: Ann Fraser; "Real ale, real food, real good"!), or just a pint.
Then continue down to Crail, go around the horn to Anstruther and into Anstruther Fish Rest., where you may have the best fish and chips on the trip! Visit the Fisheries Museum, then slide thru Pittweems to St. Monans ... to the Church King David II commissioned in 1362 as thanks to God after he and his wife were saved from a storm at sea. Then, down to Elie, take a right up to Ceres, or Pitscottie, then on to Cupar (fun shops). Proceed up to the Dairsie Inn-for a "taste" before returning for supper at Stuart Hoarn's vacation apartment on Dron Court-just west of St. A's, if you are fortunate enough to have rented it for a stay.
Then you'll be your own "Happy Hooker".
