Highland games are events held during the year in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands - a

Highland games are events held during the year in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands - a historic region of Scotland. The area is very sparsely populated, with many mountain ranges dominating the region, and includes the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis.

It is reported in numerous books and Highland games programs, that King Malcolm III of Scotland, in the 11th century, gathered contestants to a foot race to the summit of Craig Choinnich in order to find the fastest runner in the land to be his royal messenger. Some have seen this apocryphal event to be the origin of today's modern Highland games.

The games are claimed to have influenced Baron Pierre de Coubertin when he was planning the revival of the Olympic Games. De Coubertin saw a display of Highland games at the Paris Exhibition of 1889.

In their original form many centuries ago, Highland games revolved around athletic and sports competitions, all the other activities are just entertainment. But it remains true today that the athletic competitions are at least an integral part of the events and one — the caber toss — has come to almost symbolize the Highland games.

From May to September a full programme of Highland gamestakes place in small towns and villages across the country as well as those within the grounds of famed castles, so there are plenty to choose from.

---- The Cowal Highland Gathering = Cowal Games in Argyll is the biggest, most spectacular Highland games in the world, held over the final weekend in August. It’s famous for its unique atmosphere, world-class competitors, beautiful Highland location and incredible salute to the Chieftain.

Spectators and competitors. Around 23,000 people visit every year the Highland location, doubling the town's population for the weekend. Cowal Games attracts more than 3,500 competitors, with many coming from overseas countries, including Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.As the sun sets down 3,000 pipers and drummers play ‘Highland Laddie’ in unison.

--- At the Braemar Gathering, you might be lucky enough to see the Royal Family who traditionally attend each year.

--- Or why not head along to Ceres Highland Games, the oldest free games in Scotland?

1) The caber toss - a traditional Scottish athletic event involving the tossing of a large wooden pole (шест) called a caber. It is said to have developed from the need to toss logs across narrow chasms to cross them. In Scotland the caber is usually made from a Larch tree (лиственница). A caber is typically 5.94 m tall and weighs 79 kg. The person tossing the caber is called a "tosser" or a "thrower".

2) Stone put. Similar to the shot put (толкание ядра) as seen in the Olympic Games, the stone put more frequently uses an ordinary stone or rock of variable weight is often used instead of a steel ball.

3) Scottish hammer throw. А round metal ball (weighing 16 or 22 lb for men or 12 or 16 lb for women) is attached (прикреплён) to the end of a shaft (стержень) about 4 feet in length and made out of wood, bamboo, rattan, or plastic. With the feet in a fixed position, the hammer is whirled about one's head and thrown for distance over the shoulder.

4) Weight throw. Two separate events, one using a light and the other a heavy weight. The weights are made of metal and have a handle attached either directly or by means of a chain. The instrument is thrown using one hand only. Usually a spinning technique is employed. The longest throw wins.

5) Sheaf toss. A traditional Scottish agricultural sport event originally contested at country fairs (ярмарки). A pitchfork is used to throw a burlap bag (из грубой ткани) stuffed with straw over a horizontal bar above the competitor's head. Typical weight for the bag is about 7 kg. Three chances are given to each competitor to cleanly go over the bar, without touching it. After all challengers have made their attempts, the bar is raised and all successful competitors move on to the new height. This continues until all but one athlete is eliminated.

Music. The great Highland bagpipe is considered Scotland’s national instrument, and is one of the most iconic symbols of Scottish culture. Nearly all Highland games gatherings feature a wide range of piping and drumming competition, including solo piping and drumming, small group ensembles and the pipe bands themselves.

Many such events offer fiddling (violin playing), harp circles (арфа), Celtic bands and other forms of musical entertainment.

Dance. The Cowal Highland Gathering hosts the annual World Highland Dancing Championship. This event gathers the best competitive dancers from around the world who compete for the sanctioned World Championship title.

Secondary events and attractions. A wide variety of other activities and events are generally available. Foremost among these are the clan tents and sallers of Scottish related goods. At modern games, armouries will display their collections of swords (мечи) and armour (доспехи), and often perform mock battles. Herding dog trials (испытания) and exhibitions are often held, showcasing the breeder's and trainer's skills.

Highland games are a must-see addition to a Scottish holiday.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04