Highland games: Difference between revisions

{{Culture of Scotland}}

The [[Cowal Highland Gathering]], better known as the Cowal Games, is held in [[Dunoon]], [[Scotland]], every August. It is the largest Highland games in the worldScotland,{{efn|Cowal Highland Gathering can be verified as the world's largest highland games on the Official Scottish Tourist Board Website at VisitScotland.com.}} attracting around 3,500 competitors and somewhere in the region of 23,000 spectators<ref name="CHG1">{{cite web |title = Cowal Highland Gatcitationhering |url = http://www.cowalgathering.com/spectators.php |access-date=10 July 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120809091943/http://www.cowalgathering.com/spectators.php |archive-date=9 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.cowalgathering.com|title= Cowal Highland Gathering|work= cowalgathering.com|access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref> from around the globe. Worldwide, however, it is exceeded in terms of spectators by three gatherings in the United States: the estimated 30,000<ref>{{cite web |title = Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Fast Facts |date = 12 July 2010 |url = http://www.grandfather.com/about-grandfather-mountain/media/highland-games-press-room/gmhg-fast-facts }}</ref> that attend [[Grandfather Mountain]] in [[North Carolina]]; the New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival, which attracts over 35,000 annually; and the even larger Northern California gathering—the largest in the Northern Hemisphere<ref name="Scottish Games Draw Record Crowds">{{cite web |title = Scottish Games Draw Record Crowds |url = http://www.independentnews.com/scottish-games-draw-record-crowds/collection_bd18c91c-5751-11e5-9720-afdde78f41b4.html |website = The Independent |access-date = 20 September 2015}}</ref>—that has taken place every year since 1866.<ref>{{cite web |title = 150th Scottish Highland Gathering & Games |url = http://thescottishgames.com |website = thescottishgames.com |access-date = 20 September 2015 }}</ref> This event, the Scottish Highland Gathering and Games, is currently held on Labor Day weekend in [[Pleasanton, California]]; the sesquicentennial event held on 5–6 September 2015 attracted record crowds close to 50,000.<ref name="Scottish Games Draw Record Crowds" />

There are also thought to have been events where the strongest and bravest soldiers in Scotland would be tested. Musicians and dancers were encouraged to reveal their skill and talents and so be a great credit to the clan that they represented.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Some modern sources suggest more these games would originate from the deer hunts that the inhabitants of the Highlands engaged in.<ref>Antonioli, Marina; "The Highland Games -– guida ai giochi scozzesi"; ''CelticPedia''.{{unreliable source?|date=July 2023}}</ref>

For many Highland games festival attendees, the most memorable of all the events at the games is the massing of the pipe bands. Normally held in conjunction with the opening and closing ceremonies of the games, as many as 20 or more pipe bands will march and play together. The result is a thunderous rendition of ''[[Scotland the Brave]]'' or ''[[Amazing Grace]]'', and other crowd-pleasing favorite'sfavorites.

At modern-day Highland Games events, a wide variety of other activities and events are generally available. Foremost among these are the [[Scottish Clan|clan]] tents and vendors of Scottish related goods. The various clan societies make the Highland games one of the main focus of their seasonal activities, usually making an appearance at as many such events as possible. Visitors can find out information about the Scottish roots and can become active in their own clan society if they wish. These are more common at Highland Games held outside of Scotland as there is less of a demand for them in Scotland, which is not to say that they do not pop up from time to time.

|TheJohnstone firstPark, Alva Highlandat Games<brthe />werefoot of the Ochil Hills. First held in summer 1856.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/16331485.walk-past-history-famous-alva-games/ |title=A Walk in the Past: The history of the Famous Alva Games |first=Valerie |last=Forsyth |work=Alloa Advertiser |date=4 July 2018 |access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref>

|First held in 1886.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.whatsonglasgow.co.uk/event/085172-brodick-highland-games/ | title=Brodick Highland Games, Brodick }}</ref>

|[[Montreal Highland Games]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://montrealhighlandgames.qc.ca|title=Montreal Highland Games|work=montrealhighlandgames.qc.ca|access-date=19 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516194722/http://montrealhighlandgames.qc.ca/|archive-date=16 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

|Alaska Scottish Highland Games<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alaskanscottish.org|title=Alaska Scottish Highland Games|website=alaskanscottish.org}}</ref>|-

|[[ScotlandBrooklyn, Connecticut]]

|[[Honolulu]], Hawaii]]

|[[Indianapolis]], Indiana]]

|[[Houston]], Texas]]

== Notes References==

== '''Bibliography =='''