Sacred Traditions
For information about the island's traditions around the coming-of-age, see The Waulking Song. There are also traditions around The Fairy Cloth.
In addition to the symbolism of the colours in the island's traditional weaving patterns, there is also a tradition of symbolic painting on the face and body. Natural dyes are used for this.
Occasions for face painting include matches of the traditional island football game, which runs the length of the broadest cart track through the island. Two main teams take part with friendly rivalry, in this annual spring tournament: the 'crooks' (mainly shepherds, whose symbols are land-connected) and the 'knots' (mainly sailors, who symbols are ocean-connected).
There are also symbols painted onto the body when heading into combat. These usually consist of personal symbols, family symbols, and symbols that represent the island in some way. The flying skylark silhouette is often used.