Scotland is a country with many well known and colourful traditions. Here are details of just a few of them.
Bagpipes
It
is thought that bagpipes originated in Ancient Egypt around 1,000BC and
were brought to Scotland by the Romans. Bagpipes are known to have been
played in Scotland in the 14th century and current form of the
instrument came into being in the 17th century when a third drone was
added. The MacCrimmon family of Skye are credited with being key to the
popularity of the bagpipes as they invented the most popular "pibroch"
form of bagpipe music, composing a great many tunes in the days before
the piano came to Britain.
Clans
Clans were
extended Scottish families who claimed to be derived from a common
ancestor. The Clan system came into being in the Highlands of Scotland
in the 13th century. Each clan had a chief who, in many ways, was like
a feudal lord who could demand the support of his clan members. For
example, many of the Highlanders who fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie
were clan members doing the bidding of their chief. Clans claimed
territorial rights over their part of Scotland and battles between
different clans were common. The clain system was largely broken up by
the English after Bonnie Prince Charlie's unsuccessful rebellion in the
18th century.
Highland Games
Highland Games
are one of the great spectacles of Scotland where athletes, musicians
and dancers come together to compete for prizes and honour. Most
Highland Games feature Scottish country dancing and piping competitions
as well as foot races and, very often, cycle races. Competition takes
place across all age groups from 6 to 60. Perhaps the most popular
element of a Highland Games is the heavy events like tossing the caber
and throwing the hammer where strong men compete against each other in
spectacular trials of strength. Highland Games are held annually in
many Scottish towns and villages. A number of Great Scotland members
are venues for particularly well known Games.
Kilts
The
Scots have worn kilts for centuries but today's kilts look little like
those worn by our ancestors. Today Scotsmen wear kilts in place of
trousers, but for our ancestors the kilt covered their whole body from
their knees to their shoulders. The woollen cloth of the kilt would be
belted at the waist and then wrapped around their torso and fastened at
the left shoulder. This left the right arm free for carrying a sword.
For our ancestors the kilt was a warm, loose garment that allowed
freedom of movement and could also serve as a blanket when sleeping. If
Highlanders were sleeping outdoors, it was common for them to dip their
kilt in water before going to sleep. The wool in the kilt would swell
with moisture making it wind proof while retaining body heat.
Tartan
In
Scotland each Clan has its own tartans to distinguish its members from
other people. Tartans are woven into cloth to make kilts, trousers,
scarves etc. Each tartan is a design of different blocks and lines of
colour that cross at right angles to create a chequered appearance. The
word "tartan" is thought to come from the French "teretaine", which is
a particular kind of cloth. Each clan usually has at least three
different tartans - one for everyday wear, one for hunting, and a dress
tartan for ceremonial occasions. New tartans are still being designed
but all tartans must be approved by the Tartans Authority of Scotland
before they can be used in clothing and elsewhere.
