WELCOME TO An Entertainment Site for Scottish Country Dancers - Enjoy the curated selection of theme-related dances for celebrations and holidays, or find a dance associated with a special calendar day, or EVEN your own birthday!
Cabbage Day
Feb 17
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Oh, gie me a plate o' rumbledethumps,
Wi’ tatties sae creamy in mounds an' lumps.
A dash o’ butter, a sprinkle o’ cheese,
Baked till it bubbles an’ browns wi’ ease."
Yum! Hungry after an evening of dancing? This 48 bar jig may inspire you in the kitchen! Rumbledethumps, the classic mash-up of potatoes, cabbage (or kale if you're feeling fancy), and onions, all smothered in butter and sometimes topped with cheese, it’s the kind of meal that makes your granny nod approvingly. The name itself perfectly describes the process of making it—rumbling the potatoes, dethumping the cabbage, and hoping you don’t make a mess in the process. The English version, Bubble and Squeak is often friend, making use of leftovers, while the Irish version, Colcannon is a bit creamier. The dance notes state: "Rumbledethumps is the Border version of Bubble and Squeak. Rumbled means “mixed” and thumped, means “bashed together”. There is plenty of the former, but hopefully none of the latter!" Take your chances, dancers! And tuck in, it's fair braw! Recipe included! 🤪 💚 🤎 💛 🥔 🧅 🥬 🧈 🧀
Rumbledethumps
Rumbledthumps is a traditional Scottish dish that hails from the Borders and the Highlands, a hearty and comforting blend of mashed potatoes, cabbage (or sometimes kale), and onions, all baked together with a generous topping of cheese. The name itself is delightfully onomatopoeic, said to come from the sound of the ingredients being "rumbled" together and "thumped" into a dish before baking. It’s a close cousin to the English bubble and squeak, named for the sizzling sounds it makes while frying, and the Irish colcannon, which features similar ingredients but is often enriched with cream or butter.
Across the world, many cultures have their own variations of this rustic, thrifty dish. In France, aligot combines mashed potatoes with cheese, though it takes on a smoother, more elastic texture. In the Netherlands, stamppot features mashed potatoes blended with various vegetables such as endive, kale, or carrots, and is traditionally served with sausage. The Swedish potatislåda, a potato and cabbage casserole, shares similarities, as does Germany’s Himmel und Erde (Heaven and Earth), which mixes mashed potatoes with apples and onions. Meanwhile, in North America, hash and casserole dishes like Thanksgiving leftovers mash echo the same principle of repurposing hearty ingredients into something warming and delicious. Though each variation reflects regional tastes and available ingredients, they all share the common thread of simple, home-cooked comfort food made from staple ingredients.
For an authentic Scottish recipe and video to cook along to, click the rumbledethumps!
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
