Creaothceann

Creaothceann
Game or sport information
Established	Middle Ages
Players	Twelve
Equipment	Broomsticks Cauldrons Horn or drum (sound only)
Affiliation	Scotland

"The players assemble, twelve fine, hearty men,
They strapped on their cauldrons, stood poised to fly,
At the sound of the horn they were swiftly airborne,
But ten of their number were fated to die."

— A poem suggesting the deadly effects of Creaothceann

Creaothceann was a broom game that originated in Scotland, typically regarded as a highly dangerous sport.

Rules

Players were equipped with a broomstick and wore a cauldron strapped to their heads. At the start of a game, signified by the sounding of a horn or drum, a hundred rocks and boulders that had been charmed to float a hundred feet in the air began falling to the ground. The players then zoomed around the field, trying to catch as many rocks in their cauldrons as possible.

History

Players of the game were considered to show substantial manliness and courage, and despite the many fatalities that originated from playing Creaothceann, it enjoyed significant popularity during the Middle Ages. An eleventh-century tragic poem was written about the sport, suggesting that only two out of twelve players ever survived a match. The game was eventually made illegal by the British Ministry of Magic in 1762. Attempts to reverse the ban, such as one from Magnus MacDonald, eventually came to nothing.

Despite its ban, Creaothceann was still played illegally in the 21st century.

Etymology

The name likely derives from the Scottish Gaelic phrase creoth ceann, which translates to "wounded head".

Appearances

• Quidditch Through the Ages (First mentioned)
• Pottermore (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter (website) (Mentioned only)
• Quidditch Through the Ages: Illustrated Edition (First appearance)