'English Country Dances' a) is a bit of a mouthful b) sounds odd in an English (especially rural) context, and c) has connotations of patrician urbanites playing at being peasants. These days, 'ceilidhs' happen in England, & are mostly jolly (preferable to ECD's!)...Down here, indeed, the word has taken on a life of its own! Must admit to being uncomfortable with the Gaelic spelling, as I understand the word has a different significance in a Scottish or Irish (esp. Gaelic/Irish-speaking) context, so I tend to write the word 'kaley'. e.g. 'Wishing I was at a kaley in Chippenham....' Barney
|