The Feast of the Urchins
While many might not think of Selkies as farmers, the Dòbhran of the Arcaibh Islands have long cultivated the vast kelp forests just offshore as a vital source of food. Like all agricultural communities, the Dòbhran have developed a rich cycle of rituals and celebrations tied to their crops and the seasons. One of the most significant is Fèis nan Spìogagan, or the Feast of the Urchins. Held at the beginning of spring, just before the floes set out for the fishing season, the feast marks both a celebration of survival after the long winter and a farewell to those departing to sea - many of whom will not return before the fall winds blow.
An Aquacultural Pest
The sea urchins of the Arcaibh Islands love kelp - so much so that a single swarm can strip a forest bare, leaving entire stretches of seabed lifeless. To the Dòbhran, the sea urchin is more than a nuisance; it is a dangerous pest whose numbers must be kept in check to protect their livelihood.
Fortunately, the urchin is also delicious.
Each spring, once the spawning of the urchins has been observed, the Dòbhran communities embark on a great urchin hunt, diving into the kelp beds to retrieve as many of the spiny creatures as they can. The smallest urchins are left behind to grow until the following year, but even so, hundreds are brought ashore each day. Selkies compete to see who can gather the most, while the matriarchs oversee the catch, watching it grow with a practiced eye. When they judge that enough have been taken, they declare the hunt complete.
A Farewell Feast
Some say the Dòbhran know a hundred ways to cook sea urchin - and they may not be wrong. The creatures are roasted, stewed, steamed, fried, and boiled. They're paired with nearly every other ingredient available to the Selkies, especially kelp. Every member of the clan takes part in preparing the feast, from the youngest kits to the eldest matriarch. No one is left out, no matter their age or health - it is vital that every member of the community help prepare the feast, so that all are bound together by it.
The Feast of the Urchins is more than just a way to dispose of a pest. It is a time of farewell. In the days following the feast, most of the Dòbhran will depart on the floes, bound for the open ocean where they will spend the spring and summer fishing. A few remain behind to tend the rookeries and prepare for the long winter. Fishing in the northern seas is dangerous - not all will return. But those who stay ashore are no more certain to survive; many are the eldest of the clan, and time is as relentless and lethal as the sea. For some, the Feast of the Urchins will be a final parting. The Dòbhran choose to meet that truth with food, song, and laughter.
The Mummeries
One of the cherished traditions of the Feast is the mummeries - plays performed entirely by the clan's children. By strict custom, no one over the age of twelve may take part in their creation or execution. The children write the scripts, craft the costumes, and compose the songs, drawing from a mix of favorite tales and good-natured jabs at their elders. Those skilled in impersonation take center stage, hilariously portraying beloved - and sometimes not so beloved - relatives in absurd and entertaining situations.
Many Dòbhran remember their own childhood performances fondly, recounting the boldness of their jokes and the spirit of their shows for a lifetime. Performing in the mummeries is one of the high points of a Dòbhran child's year, and their efforts are always met with enthusiastic applause and warm compliments from the adults of the clan.
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This article was originally written for Spooktober 2024. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2023. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
The Feast of the Urchins hits in that quiet part of your gut where the hungry kids and forgotten souls live. This is not some bright, joyful parade. This is scraps, shadows, and the kind of reverence that grows from knowing what it means to have nothing. I can picture the lanterns flickering, not because they’re beautiful, but because they’re defiant. This is the kind of ritual that remembers people the world tries to forget.
Um - I think you might have put this comment on the wrong article? The urchins in this one are sea urchins, and they’re being eaten.