Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. From Disney and Pixar, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition and challenges destiny to change her fate.
“Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources – including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers – to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late, discovering the meaning of true bravery.
Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor that audiences of all ages around the world have come to eagerly expect. The film takes aim at theaters on June 22, 2012, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.
“BRAVE” GLOSSARY
A story set in Scotland would be jiggery pokery without its share of Scottish words and phrases. And crivens, “Brave” has plenty! But it would all be for naught unless accompanied by a proper glossary, so here goes…
AUTOCHTHONOUS
Indigenous, native
* Taught to filmmakers by Emma Thompson (voice of Queen Elinor), who used it to describe “Brave’s” Castle Dunbroch because it appears to have grown right out of the earth.
BLUE WODE
A blue dye extracted from a cabbage-type plant used by inhabitants of ancient Scotland to paint their bodies
* Lord MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin paint their bodies in blue wode to proclaim that they are ready for battle at any moment.
BRAE
Hill
BUNCH OF GALOOTS
Many fools
* galoot = clumsy, oafish person
CARNYX
A Celtic trumpet with a bell shaped like a boar’s head. Held vertically so it can be heard in large crowds, a carnyx was used during wartime to send troops into battle.
* In “Brave,” it signals the start of the Highland Games.
CRIVENS, YOU’RE FIERCE
Wow! You’re cool or ferocious or tough!
* crivens = expression of surprise or shock
DANCING TATTY BOGLE
An expression that describes something outlandish or imaginary
* tatty = shabby, cheap
* bogle, boggle or bogill = ghost or folkloric being
DORIC
A dialect from the Aberdeenshire region in Scotland
* Elgin native Kevin McKidd (voice of MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin), who learned Doric from his grandfather, proposed to filmmakers for Young MacGuffin to speak the incomprehensible dialect in “Brave.”
DREADFUL COLLYWOBBLES
Unwanted stomachache or a bad case of the nerves
* collywobbles = upset stomach; intestinal disturbances or a feeling of apprehension
FOR NAUGHT
For no reason
FINISH WHAT HE GUDDLED IN THE FIRST PLACE
Fix, clean up or otherwise remedy something that’s been horribly mishandled.
* guddle = make a mess of it
GAMY SPELL
An unfortunate bit of magic
* gamy = bad
GLEN
Small, narrow, secluded valley
GOOGLY OLD HAG
Outlandish, unattractive senior
* googly = strange, odd
GIANT HAVING A JIGGER IN THE BLUEBELLS
Similar to Dancing Tatty Bogle, something that’s absurd or fantastical
HAGGIS
Though some will joke that a haggis is a small animal native to Scotland, it is actually a traditional Scottish pudding made with sheep’s heart, liver and lungs, encased in a sheep’s stomach and cooked for several hours. Often served with “neeps and tatties” (turnips and potatoes).
HIGHLAND GAMES
Festivals that celebrate Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Includes competitions in piping and drumming, dancing, archery, caber tossing, stone put and other Scottish athletics, plus entertainment and exhibits.
JIGGERY POKERY
Nonsense
JINGS CRIVENS HELP MA BOAB
Oh my!
Exclamation of bewilderment or exasperation
KILT
A pleated and draped tartan fabric garment worn by Scottish men
* During the production of “Brave” director Mark Andrews and several animators wore kilts to work on Fridays—dubbed Kilt Fridays—to get in the spirit of Scotland and the film’s characters.
LASS
Girl
LAD
Boy
LOCH
Lake
MANKY DOGS
Unsavory person or being
* manky = dirty, worthless or in bad taste
MICHTY ME
Wow! Holy cow!
An exclamation of surprise, shock or being overwhelmed
NUMPTY
Useless individual
NUT ‘EM
Head-butt ‘em
SCAFFY WITCH
A tricky or slick being with magical powers
* scaffy = trickster
SCARED SIMPERIN’ JACKANAPES
Belittling description of a goofy and unworthy opponent
* simpering = silly smile
* jackanape = an insulting reference to a monkey or ape; a braggart; a mischievous child
SCUTTLE THE VIKING LONGSHIPS
Sink Viking ships by making holes in the bottom
STUFF HER GOB
Eat with abandon
* gob = mouth
TARTAN
A specially designed woven fabric that identifies a clan. April 6th is National Tartan Day in the United States.
TOSSING CABERS
A test of strength and skill seen in Highland Games in which the competitor raises a pole vertically with the small end down, and then throws it
* Caber = a long, tapered section of a tree trunk
TUMSHIE
Turnip… or foolish person. Or both.
WEE
Small
WE’LL BILE YUR HEED WAE DUMPLIN’ BREED; TAE MAKE AN URSINE STEW
* bile yer heed (boil your head) = don’t be ridiculous. Also used as an exclamation if someone is doing something stupid and it’s annoying
* In “Brave” King Fergus sings what he’ll do to the demon bear Mor’du when he catches him to avenge his lost leg. Not only will he boil his head, but he’ll add dumplings to make a bear stew.
WILL O’ THE WISPS
Ghostly lights or small blue spirits that lead the way to treasure or doom.
* In “Brave,” the will o’ the wisps lead Merida to change her fate.
“Brave” Recipes
Scotch Egg Recipe
John Ricks – Pixar Animation Studios, Luxo Cafe
Ingredients:
4 farm eggs, hard boiled, chilled and shelled
8 oz bulk pork sausage, best quality
(turkey sausage can be substituted)
1 raw egg
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup panko bread crumbs
oil for frying
salt & fresh herbs
Procedure:
Set up a breading station using separate bowls for
1. Seasoned flour (1/2 cup flour, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper)
2. Egg wash (beat together raw egg & milk)
3. Panko bread crumbs (with minced fresh parsley, chives, chervil, thyme, optional)
Portion sausage into four equal balls.
Flatten sausage into a thin disc using the palm of your hand.
Encase the hard boiled egg evenly in sausage meat, and crimp it closed thoroughly.
Coat with flour then egg wash and finally bread crumbs.
Note: Breaded eggs can be refrigerated overnight for convenience.
Preheat oil to 350F and cook for 5 minutes, until golden brown.
Drain on paper towel and lightly season with salt while still hot.
Serve warm or room temp, with your favorite mustard!
(Serves Four)
Great Granny May Scott’s Cullen Skink Recipe
Great Granny May – Thurso, Scotland
Ingredients:
2 oz butter
1 onion diced
1 celery stick diced
8 oz diced potato
10 oz stock (chicken or vegetable)
12 oz smoked Haddock
10 fluid oz milk
pepper/parsley to taste
3 tablespoons cream
Procedure:
Melt butter in pan.
Cook vegetables for 2 minutes.
Add potato and cook for 1 minute.
Add stock and cook for 20 minutes.
Add fish (cut into bite size pieces)/milk/pepper/parsley and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cream.
Serve with crusty bread and butter.
Printables for the wee ones
Brave Character Cut-Outs Part 1
Brave Character Cut-Outs Part 2
Disclosure: All material and images have been provided to me by Walt Disney Studios Publicity. I have permission to share. No compensation of any type was received. I love Disney!
About Kimberly {Chief Blogger}
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Wow! So many fun ideas for kids! Thanks for sharing.