This event is in it's 80th year or so and has been renamed SCOTS FEST - A Scottish Festival of Celtic Entertainment and Food to more properly reflect what it truly has become.
It's two days of true Scottish culture with all the fine points one would expect. Highland dancing, Pipe band competition, athletics (Caber toss, hammer throw, weight for height etc), Clan Societies, and plenty of food, drinks and entertainment (Bad Haggis, Sligo Rags, Highland Way and Tempest) of all sorts.
This event has become a family tradition with us. We head there every memorial day weekend to get our slice of highland culture.
It's a great opportunity to see all our old friends from our Clan Society (http://macdougall.org). This is one of the best places to find your Scottish roots. Most if not all of the clan tents have some type of listing of the Septs (family names) associated to the clan. Many also have some fairly comprehensive books on Scottish surnames that can also be helpful in locating at least some connection. There are so many people with a vast array of knowledge that your bound to find something out if you try hard enough. Granted that every clan had their fair share of Smiths since they all had black smiths and the like in the local village.
Though my wife and daughter do not get to excited about the athletics I do like to try and see a few guys try and toss the caber. Unfortunately, we generally have to split up to pull this off. Way too many things going on.
Caber Toss
Caber, in Gaelic, means simply pole or rafter. Unlike
the standardized instruments common to modern track and field events, it
has no fixed weight or dimensions. Contestants on a particular day all
have to try with the log at hand. In the event no one is able to turn it
(end over end) successfully, it is common practice to saw a piece off
until someone is able to turn it. It should be noted that the goal of
the effort is not distance, but to toss the log end-over-end so that it
lands in a straight line from the tosser. Points are deducted according
to the number of degrees off from the ideal 12 o'clock mark. The greater
handicap in this event isn't the weight of the caber, but its length.
Some times everyone has trouble getting the caber to turn. Other times a couple of guys are able to turn the caber. It is always fun and can be potentially risky depending where you position yourself to watch. Some guys due to the size of the caber have a real hard time getting it to balance properly so that can begin their attempted at turning it. This has involved stepping backwards and the like. Thus the risk if the person has to drop the caber; not fun to be hit by a telephone pole.
Other events that are fun to watch is the Highland Dancing. It is just amazing what those girls can do.
And the pile of Celtic apparel and clothing you see people wearing and that is available to buy.
Back in the day just before I got married I went and purchased a kilt package from a vendor at the fair. Unfortunately, I had problems with the vendor fulfilling my order and had to take them to small claims court. They thankfully do not exist anymore and are not at the fair any longer. It sure was a deal but, it was a pain when I had to go and acquire varies pieces to have a complete outfit for my wedding reception.
I do get a kick out of the many t-shirts that are available to specify and answer the ultimate question - WHAT DO YOU WEAR UNDER THAT KILT?
In a book I have entitled - So you are going to wear the kilt: Revised 3rd edition by J. Charles Thompson there is a section that discusses how to handle those questions. You won't get much of that at Scotsfest. Since many a person at the fair is wearing a kilt no one asks. In reality it is when your the only wearing the kilt that you have a higher chance of getting asked.
So how do you respond? Since it referencing such a private affair and parts that people don't like to talk about it can become hard. He says to use something along the lines of "The plumbing is all in working order, do you need a demonstration?", or "My shoes". Basically something simple to put them off. You have to keep up the mystic of the whole affair. In the past people wore nothing underneath the kilt. Now a days you find all kinds of athletic shorts and other types of undergarments. I think I even read that they changed policy for the dragoons guards and other highland regiments in regards to the lack of clothing under the kilt. It is now considered tacky to not use anything under your kilt. But if you really tell someone what is down there the mystery goes away. A shirt with some ideas for responding presents some seedy ideas. A few of the cleaner ones are - Fine set of accessories, socks and shoes, etc. To see all the saying and the actual shirt click here or click here Your sure to get a laugh even if you are considered a bit of a prude. Below are a few other choices naturally cleaner then some of the above options.
So as we celebrate our Scottish heritage take the chance to get your kilt out and wear it. Listen to some great bagpipe music and enjoy some Haggis if that is to your liking.
If you think you might be related to some famous Scotsman or other British isles royalty then you should check out my post entitled - Are you Related to someone Famous?
Buaidh - NO - Bas
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