Clan Gatherings and Highland Games
Why not look at our clan touring ideas specifically designed to take in the major sites relating to your clan heritage.
A brief summary of the whole panorama of Scottish history from the first human settlements to the present day.
From evenings of toe-tapping traditional music in friendly pubs to the colour and excitement of Scottish events, every gathering of Scots is a celebration that you'll want to be part of.
Highland Games in Scotland Highland Games around the world Clan Gatherings The modern Games
Scotland’s breathtaking scenery acts as a backdrop to our famous Highland Games! From May to September, watch events such as tossing the caber, the tug-o-war and throwing the hammer, as well as Highland dancing and Pipe band performances. Mix with the locals, buy Scottish souvenirs or even take part in the visitor events!
To find out more about the main Highland Games events taking place in Scotland this year, download our pdf document.
You can also find out more about Scotland's Highland Games from the Scottish Highland Games Association, the governing body Traditional Highland Games in Scotland.
And of course you don't need to be in Scotland to visit Highland Games or Scottish Event! The Scots website has a has a useful listing of Highland Games worldwide. Please note that, as this is an external link, VisitScotland do not take no responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided. Always check the details directly with the organisers before making arrangements to attend an event.
There are over 500 clan and family associations registered around the world, who gather regularly to celebrate their Scottish heritage. To find out more about events your clan are having visit the official website of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. Please note that, as this is an external link, we can take no responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided. Always check the details directly with the organisers before making arrangements to attend an event.
The History of the Games and Gatherings
Foot-racing, horse-racing and wrestling were a common feature of St Michael's Day (29 September) celebrations while other racing and athletics contests sprang up at fairs on the various holy days as well as at cattle fairs on the quarter days of the Scottish calendar. Similar sporting contests also took place at the conclusion of military musters called wappinschaws that were staged by different clans. The clans' warriors used these events to test their physical prowess in much the same way as modern soldiers engage in physical training. According to one source, it was at one such muster in 1574 that 'tossing of ye barr' (caber-tossing) first appeared on record. Yet these original competitions did not call simply for feats of strength since poets, bards and musicians also performed and competed.
The formalisation of Highland Games and their establishment as annual events dates from the 1820s, a part of the romanticisation of Highland culture that was rife amongst the British ruling class at the time. Accounts from the games of this period describe a programme of contests that are largely unchanged today: the Invergarry Games, for example, featured 'dancing, piping, lifting a heavy stone, throwing the hammer and running...'. Happily, the more specialised pursuit of 'twisting the four legs off a cow for which a fat sheep is offered as a prize' does not feature in the more civilised repertoire of the modern games. This usually comprises running and jumping, throwing stones or hammers, tugs-of-war, tossing the caber, as well as a variety of piping and dancing competitions.
