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World Snake Day
Jul 16
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"In Scotland, where tartans are grand,
A snake slithered all through the land.
With his fine tam o'shanter,
He danced to the chanter,
The silliest snake in the land!"
~ Angus MacHiss
Slither and Hiss! Snake Pass is a mountain pass nestled in the Peak District of England, winding its way between the towns of Glossop in Derbyshire and Ashopton in the Hope Valley. At an elevation of 1,680 feet (512 meters), it boasts scenic views and a twisting road, making it a favorite route for motorists and cyclists alike. While other winding roads may share this distinction, fear not—snakes rarely venture into Scottish dancing venues, except as the undulating Snake Pass figure! Scotland's sole native snake, the shy adder (Vipera berus), typically avoids ceilidhs. Historically, snakes have received a lot of bad press, likely due to an evolved survival response in humans and primates. However, snakes still get their due with their own awareness day, highlighting their diversity and preservation issues. Celebrate these fascinating creatures with a lively jig ending in the namesake "Snake Pass." Hissing optional—please check with your teacher. 😜 🐍 🐍 🐍
The Snake Pass
This dance contains a challenging figure of the same name, "the snake pass" which is sometimes also called "the smoke" for its winding and curling path.
The Snake Pass is the name given to the higher reaches of the A57 road where it crosses the Peak District between Manchester and Sheffield in the north of England. More specifically, the name usually refers to the section between the town of Glossop and the Ladybower reservoir, where the road passes over the high ground between the moorland plateaux of Kinder Scout and Bleaklow. There are many famous "Snake Passes" elsewhere in the world of equally windy nature.
Snakes figure prominently in human culture from ancient times, revered or reviled, but a few snakes have made their name in literature:
Asmodeus Poisonteeth from Brian Jacques' Redwall
Kaa from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book
Nag & Nagaina from Rudyard Kipling's Rikki Tikki Tavi
Nagini from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter
So whether you are a student of ophidiology, an ophiophilist, or suffer from ophidiophobia, you can either appreciate or overcome the day by mastering the snake pass.
For more about the actual Snake Pass, click the road sign.
See below for a video of this dance performed by the Tay Dancers in 2015.
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
