Celebrating Our Celtic Heritage
A unique mix of the sporting, cultural and social, Highland Games have an ancient and proud history. Oral tradition holds that some version of the Highland games has been in existence within the Celtic and Gaelic Community since before the dawn of Christianity, and pre-dates even the Greek Olympics.
The original Gatherings would have been essentially war games, designed to select the best warriors in each family tribe or clan. Throughout the centuries, some version of the Games could be found at all sorts of rural fairs and gatherings, including May-Games, feasts and wakes.
In 1711, an article in the London “Spectator” described a country wake that took place in Bath.: “The village green was covered with a promiscuous multitude of all ages and both sexes, divided into several parties, all of them endeavouring to show themselves in those exercises wherein they excelled”.
The author described games of cudgel playing, football and wrestling and further noted that “the young maids who were not lookers on at these exercises were themselves engaged in some diversion. Upon my asking a farmer’s son of my own parish what he was gazing at with so much attention, he told me he was watching his sweetheart pitch a bar.”
The prizes at these fairs were hats for the men and smocks for the women and the prize “is always hung up by the person who gets it in one of the most conspicuous parts of the house, and looked upon by the whole family as something redounding much more to their honour than a coat-of-arms”
The article added that “nothing is more usual than for a nimble-footed wench to get a husband at the same time that she wins a smock’.
The editor went on to defend these festivals as a worthy way for the stoutest and healthiest men and women to meet and wed, thus improving the constitution of the nation’s populace!
The games in Scotland grew in numbers and popularity throughout the years, but received a mortal blow in 1746 by the Act of Proscription, which was enacted in an attempt to completely crush the Scottish Spirit following the unsuccessful Jacobite Rebellion in 1745.
The Act of Proscription outlawed Scottish customs, dress and gatherings and was not repealed until nearly 40 years later in 1782, which allowed the Highland Games to be revived. In 1822, the Games gained recognition and prominence when the British King, George IV, appeared in Edinburgh in full Highland dress during a visit to Scotland. His very public endorsement took the final taint away from the plaid!
Today, Highland Festivals are held all around the world, with more than 200 games taking place annually all across the US and Canada. The Gathering of the Scots Festival kicks off at noon on Thursday, May 29th with the Official Flag Raising Ceremony at the Town Hall and continues throughout the weekend.
There will be food, music, dance, culture, art and drink….
Until then, we will see you when you come…
chì sinn thu nuair a thig thu!
