The Origins of the Traditional Highland Games

The Traditional Highland Games is an event that brings spectators and competitors from around the world to experience the rush and thrill of the ancient Scottish culture. The exact origins of the games are difficult to identify, due to the origins being spread by word of mouth (Brewster, etc. 2009), but these traditions and rituals continue today. The popular explanation is that they began in the 11th century, during the reign of King Malcolm of Canmore. The original gathering and games served as a way for the King to find runners to deliver messages for him and the strongest men to be his bodyguards. Following this, it is said that events continued taking place in rural areas of Scotland, where they participated in activities that would be featured in the official Highland Games, such as the caber toss and throwing the stone. It was discovered that these events promoted friendly rivalries with the local farmers and communities, which increased and strengthened the community togetherness, while also providing enjoyment.  

Following the 18th-century rebellion, there was a demand to retain the Scottish cultural heritage, and a way that they sought to do that was by establishing the Highland Games as a national tradition (Brewster, etc. 2009). A contemporary format began in 1782, organized by the St. Filians Society, which included events containing athletics, piping, dancing, and heavy events. After the establishment of the games, they have persisted to today. The meanings behind doing them, and their values, may have changed, but they are largely still about the preservation of Scottish culture and bringing communities together (Brewster, etc. 2009). These rituals were able to bring together the nobility and the lower-class citizens, all enjoying the same events together, whether spectating or participating.  
 
How each of the games was invented is not necessarily known; much of this part of the games is speculation (Brewster, etc. 2009). The games, which act as the text of this folklore, were not merely meant to be a spectacle to show strength (Sims & Stephens 2011). While it is one of the most exciting events for spectators, there is more diversity in the games than just strength. Some of the other games include hill running, dancing, wrestling, bagpipe music, poetry, and more. One of the primary goals of the events is to show athleticism, so having this wide variety of events helps promote that. It allows for diverse competitors, ranging from those that can toss a caber through the air, to those who can jump very long distances. Then, there are also novelty events as well, for those who may not be athletic, such as three-legged races and tilt the bucket. The introduction of novelty events like those mentioned, and expanding outside of merely athletic or strength events, helped expand the Highland Games audience, and it began to attract visitors from far and wide. At their height, there were hundreds of games that took place each year around Scotland (Brewster, etc. 2009).