Screeched In

Last weekend I went to a wedding in Port aux Basques. We flew from Wabush to Deer Lake then drove three hours south.  We were warned by at least five people to keep an eye out for moose and about half way there at 10pm Simone slammed on the braked for two big moose in the middle of the road.  Unfortunately we couldn't get to our cameras in time and the moose wandered off into the woods.

Houses at Port aux Basques

Saturday morning was raining so we did some souvenir shopping and took some photos of the gorgeous scenic town surrounded by water.  The ferry and the ferry terminal are very prominent in the middle of town (the night before we thought the ferry was a hotel!).  The ferry connects the island of Newfoundland to Novia Scotia and it travels out through a small ice free channel in Port aux Basques.  I was taking a photo of Simone and Jeff on the main street when a car pulled up and a lady called out, "Do you want me to take that?" "Sure" I replied.  She responded in her thick Newfie accent "Me knows how hard it can be to get a photo of da tree (sic) o' you".  She proceeded to park her car on the main street and stood on the other side of the street to take a photo of Jeff, Simone and I. Meanwhile the traffic stopped on either side to wait for us to have our photo taken.  Each visit to 'the island' I am more impressed by the hospitality of Newfie's.

Diana and Damon had a lovely ceremony in the lush green Codroy Valley with a reception at a local hotel. There is a Newfoundland wedding tradition of tapping on your wine glass to get the bride and groom to kiss so there was a lot of glass clinking.  Later in the evening the MC announced that he was going to conduct a 'screeching in' ceremony.  I had a look of horror on my face because I knew they were talking about us three Aussies at the wedding.  I was right.  We were hauled up on the dance floor, lights were turned on and the spotlight was on us. 

Screeching in is a ceremony to become a honourary Newfoundlander.  You have to say a difficult Newfie phrase, kiss a codfish and drink a shot of screech.  The MC told me what I had to say, very quickly, "'deed I is me ol' cock, and long may your big jib draw." I was the first to try and say the phrase into the microphone, I couldn't even get out half of it, the second time was closer and he said "that'll have to do". Next the MC said "Get the hoar" and Diana's mum came out with an oar, you see Newfie's add 'h' to the front of most words. We got down on one knee and the oar was placed on each of our shoulders.  We kissed a picture of a puffin because there was no codfish then we sculled our Newfoundland screech. Yuk!

Down the hatch!

We were each given a souwester hat and had to dance a Newfoundland jig on the dance floor with the Bride and Groom.  After that we were presented with our Screeched In certificate.

I am now an honourary Newfoundlander!

Screecher's Creed Translation

You might be a bit lost, so here's a basic translation:

Deed I is: Indeed, I am.

Me Old Cock: And old English Cockney term of endearment, meaning buddy or friend.

Long may your big jib draw: A mariner's term meaning good luck - may there always be wind in your sails.