The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Wonderful bridies!
“Reading about the mistaken and unfortunate criticism of bridies,” emails Innes Duffus, archivist to the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee, “I must say just how wonderful bridies can be.
“Bridies play an important part in the history of the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee. In 1581 nine individual trades got together to form the nine.
“Every year at this time the convener and deacons would meet together with the collector (treasurer) to decide how much money they could afford to give to the sick and infirm members along with widows and orphans. It would be quite cold in the Howff and as there were no banks in the early days, they would resort to a hostelry for ‘division’ where they would divide the money.
“Division was to allow the collector to hand over the cash for the year to each deacon to distribute to the needy.
“Exactly the same happens to this day. We still meet on a Tuesday to help the needy, although there are fewer than in earlier times, and the meeting is adjourned till the following Friday for what is now called the ‘Bridie Supper’. It is used as a way of thanking the officials, who work voluntarily, for the work they have done during the year. The ‘donors of the delicacies’ are toasted in traditional fashion.
“The meal starts with a small bridie followed by the rest of the meal. Before going home, everyone is given two large bridies. These, like the small ones, have been baked by a member of the Baker Trade using meat supplied by one of the Fleshers.
“Needless to say no one misses the wonderful ‘cerry oot’ and, having enjoyed many, of these I can confirm that the best quality products go into the mix.”