Highland Games

Music and Dance

The Highland Games

Events held throughout the year in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage

The Cowal Highland Gathering is the biggest of them all

The History

The Origin - 11th century when King Malcolm set up a race to find the fastest runner in the land to be his Royal Messenger.

Highland Scots used the Highland Games to train for combat in the Jacobite Rebellions as the English had banned them from training for war.

The Events

Caber Toss –athletes throw a long wooden log.

Stone Put, an event very similar to the modern Olympic Shot Put

Sheaf Toss, Competitors throw large bundles of straw.

Etc.

Hammer throw

Sheaf toss

Caber Toss

Stone put

Weight over the bar

Famous Dances

There are lots of famous Scottish dances including:The Highland FlingThe Sword Dance The Highland Reel

Scottish Music

The Main instruments in Scottish music are:The accordian, The bag pipes, The fiddle,The guitar, The Harp

Music is a very important part of Scottish Culture.

The End