The Blacknen In Fraserburgh

 

The Blacknen In Fraserburgh

The Blacknen is very much a local custom practised in Orkney, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Fife and not widely known about in other parts of the UK.

Traditionally, a bride or groom would be covered in soot, treacle, flour and feathers on the day before the wedding, then paraded around town to ward off evil spirits.

Today, everyone in the Hen group (bride’s friends) and Stag group (groom’s friends) cover their faces in soot, get very drunk, and drive around on a truck with horns blaring. Finally, everyone jumps into the North Sea from the harbour!

Girls’ Blacknen Harbour Jump (2000)

In this video recorded in the year 2000, a hen do enjoys taking part in the Blacknen pre-wedding tradition.

Fraserburgh girls jump in harbour on a Blacknen - Broch Tapes on YouTube

A chance to see men enjoying the Blacknen pre-wedding tradition in Scotland in the year 2000.

Mens’ Blacknen Harbour Jump (2000)

Fraserburgh mans blacknen - Broch Tapes on YouTube