Blackening at the Tir Atrium Hotel, Lochbroom
CHARITY, John
This is another ritual occasion, the ''blackening'' before a wedding. Both partners are done, which is a recent innovation, I think. I wasn't there to photograph the blackening, I was part of the team that was doing it. What usually happens is the victims are caught, drink is poured down on them, they are blackened, then taken for a tour of the neighbourhood. Anything suitable is used, oil, sheep-keel, black treacle. It comes off with great difficulty.
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