Toronto St. Andrew's Ball

[Nathan]

I did not make it this year, but the photos are posted and it looks like a good time was had by all!

http://hadaball.com/event.php?event=138&city=toronto

[Liam]

I did not make it this year, but the photos are posted and it looks like a good time was had by all!

http://hadaball.com/event.php?event=138&city=toronto

Some fine photos.... I curious, there are a number of photos of the guests waving their napkins.... Can you explain the significance/context? This is not a custom that I am familiar with.

[Nathan]

Some fine photos.... I curious, there are a number of photos of the guests waving their napkins.... Can you explain the significance/context? This is not a custom that I am familiar with.

They always do this at St. Andrew's Society of Toronto events when the head table or haggis are being piped in. I'm not sure when it originated or why but it does make the piping in a lot more fun.

[Liam]

They always do this at St. Andrew's Society of Toronto events when the head table or haggis are being piped in. I'm not sure when it originated or why but it does make the piping in a lot more fun.

Perhaps surrendering to the powerful Haggis!
Thanks.....

[JohntheBiker]

Made it to the ball this year and can confirm that, indeed, a good time was had by all (certainly my wife and I had a great time)! A terrific meal (including haggis, neeps and tatties, of course) followed by ceilidh dancing to the pipes and drums of the 48th Highlanders into the wee hours of the morning - quite the work-out.

A couple of I was there photos:



With that special person.



With friends and dancing partners.



Haggis, of course.



Another tradition: the Victorian ram's head that dispenses after dinner snuff.

[Jock Scot]

For those that may be interested the snuff holder is known as a "snuff mull".

[Nathan]

There are typically two vintage snuff mulls at the event. One belonging to the St. Andrew's Society and the other to the 48th Highlanders.

[JohntheBiker]

There are typically two vintage snuff mulls at the event. One belonging to the St. Andrew's Society and the other to the 48th Highlanders.

Here's a photo of the other mull, in case you are interested.

[Orvis]

Made it to the ball this year and can confirm that, indeed, a good time was had by all (certainly my wife and I had a great time)! A terrific meal (including haggis, neeps and tatties, of course) followed by ceilidh dancing to the pipes and drums of the 48th Highlanders into the wee hours of the morning - quite the work-out.

A couple of I was there photos:



With that special person.



With friends and dancing partners.



Haggis, of course.



Another tradition: the Victorian ram's head that dispenses after dinner snuff.

Jonathan - Your red-coated friends of the 48th Highlanders seem to be equipped as pioneers. Does that regiment still maintain a pioneer unit (at least for ceremonial occasions), or were the troops equipped as pioneers only for this occasion?

Also, the snuff-mulls are magnificent! Years ago, when my Highland reenactment unit visited the Bleury Street Armoury of the Black Watch of Canada (Royal Highland Regiment) in Montreal, we got to see the outstanding ram's head snuff mull in the Regiment's Officers' Mess. We also saw pipes of the 42nd Regiment that had been played at Waterloo. All in all, visiting the BWC's Armoury was a great experience, and we were treated very well by the staff.