History of Highland Games and the Scottish Tradition

Introduction

Highland Games is one of the most distinctive Scottish cultural sporting traditions, with continuous documented practice from ancient Scottish Highland origins through the modern professional Highland Games circuit. The Highland Games tradition has been shaped by ancient Scottish Gaelic Highland cultural tradition, the medieval Scottish Highland clan tradition, the 19th century Scottish Highland revival movement, and the Scottish diaspora communities across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. The modern global Highland Games landscape is anchored by the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering (held annually since 1819 at Braemar in Aberdeenshire), the Cowal Highland Gathering (held annually since 1894 at Dunoon in Argyll and Bute), the International Highland Games Federation (IHGF), the Scottish Highland Games Association, and various national Highland Games federations. The Highland Games tradition encompasses approximately seventy-five Highland Games gatherings annually across Scotland and various Scottish diaspora Highland Games events. This article surveys the full history of Highland Games from ancient origins through the modern professional Highland Games circuit.

Ancient Scottish Highland Origins

Highland Games extends from ancient Scottish Highland origins. The principal ancient Scottish Gaelic Highland cultural tradition produced foundational competitive sporting events including the principal weight throw and stone put tradition. The medieval Scottish Highland clan tradition produced extensive competitive sporting events. The 11th century King Malcolm III of Scotland's documented hill race competition at Craig Choinnich (near Braemar) to select the principal royal courier extended the documented Scottish Highland competitive sporting tradition. The medieval Scottish Highland Games competitive tradition continued through subsequent centuries. The 1715 and 1745 Jacobite rising periods substantially restricted Scottish Highland cultural traditions, including Highland Games. The 1746 Battle of Culloden and subsequent 1747 Act of Proscription banning Scottish Highland cultural practices substantially restricted Highland Games practice. The 1782 repeal of the Act of Proscription enabled the Scottish Highland cultural revival movement.

1819 Braemar Royal Highland Gathering

The 1819 Braemar Royal Highland Gathering establishment at Braemar in Aberdeenshire by the Braemar Highland Society established the principal modern Scottish Highland Games tradition. The 1819 Braemar Highland Society founding by John Robertson, the Braemar farmer and Scottish Highland cultural advocate, established the principal modern Braemar Highland Games sanctioning body. The continued Braemar Royal Highland Gathering tradition has continued through subsequent decades. The 1848 Queen Victoria attendance at the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering established the principal British royal family Highland Games tradition. The continued British royal family Highland Games tradition at Balmoral Castle (the principal British royal family Scottish Highland residence) has continued through subsequent decades. The 1907 Cowal Highland Gathering founding at Dunoon in Argyll and Bute extended the principal modern Scottish Highland Games tradition.

Highland Games Events