Highland Moon, Scotland

No Scottish Highlander would begin any serious undertaking in the waning of the moon, such as marrying, moving house, or going on a far journey from home. When the roth, rath, or circle of the moon was full, then was the lucky time for beginning every serious or important matter.

Hence the Gaelic word roth or rath, luck or fortune, as such a person is called rathail or mirathail, i.e., lucky or unlucky; or, in other words, the full moon arose or did not arise on his destiny.

Return To Scots Folklore