In Ireland and Scotland, there is a venerable tradition still alive today. People from all walks of life gather in someone’s home or a community hall to tell stories, recite poetry, sing ballads, and dance. They call these gatherings cèilidhs, an ancient Gaelic word pronounced “kay-lee.” Years ago, I held cèilidhs in my home, and they proved to be a big hit. I’d select a theme for the evening, like “travel to exotic places,” or “biggest mistake,” or “most unusual experience you’ve ever had.” The response was always positive, but several people would say they’d come and listen, preferring not to speak. Invariably, though, they would be reminded of a story and share it, and they were off to the races telling a spellbinding account of something exotic and quite extraordinary. We had no stage. Everyone just sat around listening and enjoying each other’s company. The tough thing was getting people to leave as we approached the midnight hour. We wanted to go to bed. Sharing in this way nurtures people’s souls in ways they don’t even know they miss, especially as we emerge from COVID lockdowns and isolation.
In addition to inviting people to come and share a story, have them bring a favorite song or ballad, an instrument to play, a poem to read, or teach everyone a traditional dance. Expect to build a depth of community that’s hard to replicate through most any other activity we know. In this time of social distancing, you can easily replicate cèilidhs online.