Bonded by 'fun and frivolity'
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Scottish heritage links numerous members of a most unserious group
By Sally Voth -- svoth@nvdaily.com
WINCHESTER -- If you take your Celtic heritage seriously, but not yourself, you just might be a Sassie Lassie.
A hankering for Haggis, thirst for Scotch and deep respect for poet Robert Burns are prerequisites. A Highland brogue helps, but isn't required.
Several dozen women who were born in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, or England -- or whose ancestors were -- meet every month to share their love for "all things Scottish," as the Sassie Lassies, North American Chapter, their Facebook page says.
"Scottish history, lineage, traditions, travel, friendship and good cheer is the focus of our Society," the page says.
Earlier this month, about 15 of the Lassies shared a meal at Perkins in Winchester. Last month, they gathered at Joe's Steakhouse in Woodstock, and next month they're having tea at a member's Warrenton home.
Most of the ladies were kitted out in mini Tartan sashes. Scottish flags served as centerpieces. The mood was light and the banter teasing.
Bobbie Hatcher, one of the founding members and sometimes referred to as "Her Royal Highness," has been known to don a crown and bestow knighthoods.
It's all part of the "fun and frivolity" she wants the Lassies to have.
The idea was sparked four years ago during a birthday lunch at the now-closed Edinburg Tea Room for Scottish author and artist Aileen Campbell, formerly of Woodstock, Hatcher said. As the women introduced each other to more women with Celtic heritage, the group coalesced.
"We needed a name for the group," said Hatcher, who has lived in Strasburg for 25 years, but hails from Brechin, Scotland. "I have a group in Scotland, my school chums in Scotland, we call ourselves the Sassy Lassies. We're a merry bunch and we really don't have a strong structure."
Friday's lunch included door prizes, sharing of information on clans' tartans, donations to a kidney charity in honor of a recently deceased Lassie, and the initiation of three new members.
"Now this [initiation ceremony] is secret, you must never reveal," Hatcher jokingly warned them in her thick Scottish accent.
The initiates were questioned on traditional Scottish fare, how many times they'd seen "Braveheart," the capital of Edinburgh and whether their favorite actor was Sean Connery. They could buy T-shirts featuring the club's thistle logo on the front and the phrase "If found dial 1-800-Haggis" on the back.
Donations for various charities are taken up at each meeting. Most of the Lassies live in the Shenandoah Valley, according to Hatcher.
Many were wearing Celtic jewelry, including broaches on their sashes.
The women have started an annual picnic, and have an annual ceilidh.
"A ceilidh, that's a very traditional thing where families and neighbors get together in the evening and entertain," Hatcher explained. "People get up and sing a song or play an instrument or entertain. We've had four. It's wonderful. It's a great night."
Martha Turner, who is hosting next month's tea, said her husband speaks Gaelic and sings at the ceilidhs. Her friend, Iris Nimmo, a member of the Fauquier Scottish Heritage Society, invited her to a Sassie Lassies event.
"She said, 'You want to go for tea over the mountains?'" Turner said. 'I said, 'Sure, why not?' Now, I would come with or without her. I've never met anybody, I've never felt so comfortable [as she does with the Sassie Lassies]."
Hatcher added, "We just kind of bonded."
The Lassies are "a very caring group of ladies," said Winchester resident Margaret Timbrell, who is from Dursley, England.
"You learn so many things about different people," she said. "It's never boring."
"We never run out of conversation," Turner added.
Strasburg resident Marie Spence brings her Scots-Irish heritage to the table.
"I was invited to join a couple years ago, and I love it," she said. "It's great. We're social and charitable and we pull from the regional area. This is something that you do for pleasure and for education."
Sounds like a wonderful bunch of ladies. Congratulations on the gathering. Scotland is awesome! I have several family members that hail from Scotland and Wales.