Clootie well

In either case, many see this as a probable continuation of the ancient Celtic practice of leaving votive offerings in wells or pits.

In some locations the ceremony may also include circumambulation (or circling) of the well a set number of times and making an offering of a coin, pin or stone.

Those that instead view the clootie as an offering to the spirit, saint or deity are more likely to tie an attractive, clean piece of cloth or ribbon.

[4][5] In Scotland, by the village of Munlochy on the A832, is a clootie well (called in Scottish Gaelic: Tobar Churadain) at an ancient spring dedicated to Saint Curetán, where rags are still hung on the surrounding bushes and trees.

It is the site of megalithic burial grounds dating back to approximately 3500 and 3300 BC, situated near the summit of Sliabh na Caillí and on surrounding hills and valleys.

[11] In 2002, the folklorist Marion Bowman observed that the number of clootie wells had "increased markedly" both at existing and new locations in recent years.

The 2018 film The Party's Just Beginning, written and directed by Inverness-born filmmaker Karen Gillan, features the Munlochy clootie well.