South Queensferry's Pagan Plant Spirit

 

In South Queensferry, Midlothian, a traditional pagan ceremony is played out every year on the second Friday of August.  The origins for this mysterious ritual are lost in the mists of time, but since 1687 the 'Burry Man' has paraded around the streets of the town, frightening children and fascinating adults.......

The Burry Man:

During the local 'Ferry Fair', held each August, one of South Queensferry's townsmen applies to the local council for the honour of being that year's Burry Man.  The successful applicant dresses in a full body costume made of flannel.  This costume is completely covered with the hooked fruits of Arctium lappa and Arctium minus, Britain's two native Burdock species.  The person who plays the Burry Man must collect these 'burrs' himself (usually from near the local shale bings, where they grow), as well as any manner of flowers and ferns to ornament both his costume and the two staves he carries around on his journey.
 
 

Arctium minus Lesser Burdock This widespread member of the daisy family (Asteraceae) is found in waste places (such as around the old mining areas which are frequent throughout Central Scotland). The fruits, or 'burrs' are strongly hooked, in order to catch the fur of passing animals so that the seeds can be dispersed.  It is these fruits that are worn on the costume of the Burry man.

The Parade

Once he is fully decked out in his heavy costume, the Burry Man leaves from the centre of town at around nine o'clock in the morning. He parades around calling at each of the pubs (and nowadays some of the factories) in the town, where he receives a drink of whisky through a straw. He is also required to visit the Provost's house where, yet again, he is given a drink. He is accompanied by two attendants, who ensure that the ordeal is endurable. Even so, after nine or so hours of slow walking, in a heavy costume, he will have had a considerable amount to drink and is truly exhausted.  For the 25 years prior to 1999, the position of Burry Man had been held by a Mr Alan Reid.  After Mr Reid's 'retiral', the post was taken up by Mr John Nicol, who was agreed to have performed admirably.

Origins
Quite what the Burry Man is meant to represent has been a matter of debate for several hundred years, with even Sir Walter Scott being unable to provide (or rather make up) an answer.  It is fairly certain that the ritual has its origins far further back than the first recorded event in 1687.  There are two prevailing theories:

1. The Green Man
As a 'Green Man' character, the Burry Man may represent a spirit of vegetation and fertility.  The Green Man is seen throughout British (particularly English) folklore and is thought to be a sanitised, or 'faerified' version of one of the primal Indo-European gods of the land.

2. The Scapegoat
With the burrs clinging to his clothing, it is thought that the Burry Man may be a character who takes away the evils of the town with him as he makes his way around, effectively cleaning up the evil spirits. In its earliest times, were this the case, the Burry Man would probably have been offered for sacrifice or banished.  Nowadays the only sacrifice made is a hangover and physical exhaustion.

There is some difference of opinion amongst the local children as to how scary the Burry Man is.  To some he is a comic figure, whereas to others (including a girl now in her twenties) the first sight of the Burry Man is enough to "scar you for life".  Yet more of the town's children dole out the sage advice not to look into his eyes - presumably it brings bad luck.