Fun & (Highland) games
A wee bit o' Scotland comes to Murray next weekend, June 9-11
By Scott Iwasaki
Deseret News staff writer
Published: Thursday, June 1, 2000 4:10 p.m. MDT
Garry Bryant is of Scottish descent, and the Highland Games are a way for him to get in tune with his roots.
"It was many years ago when I first went to the games," Bryant said. "I had done my genealogy and had hit a wall. There were no other leads I could follow. And I was pretty discouraged. Then I found out about the games and went.
"All of a sudden, I was surrounded by people who had the same culture and traditions that I had."
The games touched Bryant, and since that time, there hasn't been a year when he's missed the festivities.
The 26th annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games will take place next weekend at Murray City Park, 5109 S. Murray Park Ave. (100 East).
The whole shebang begins Friday, June 9, with a Grande Tattoo ceremony at 7:30 p.m. The evening of music and dance will be capped off with fireworks at 10 p.m. Admission is $5.
On Saturday, June 10, the Highland Games will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-12, and children under 6 are free.
The Scottish weekend will end Sunday, June 11, with a Kirkn' O' the Tartan at 9 a.m.
"I take my family every year," Bryant said. "And it gives me a sense of belonging. As a parent, I feel the responsibility to teach the traditions of my ancestors to my children. And, hopefully, they will teach their children, and so on down the line."
Although the Highland Games have been a part of the diverse Salt Lake City scene for a quarter of a century, many people have misconceptions.
"The Grande Tattoo isn't a gathering where people get themselves painted up," said Bryant, now a board member of the Utah Scottish Association. "It stems from a tradition that started back in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the British troops stationed in the lowlands near Belgium would hit the taverns during the evening.
"When it was time for the regiments to head back to camp, a sergeant would walk down the street and poke his head inside the bars and tell the soldiers to pack it up. The soldiers would then fall in line with the sergeant as he went to the other pubs.
"Later, the tradition started incorporating drums and pipes. And that's how the tattoo began," said Bryant. "The word 'tattoo' was derived from the order the sergeant gave."
Many people are familiar with the caber tossing that takes place during the Highland Games, said Bryant. "The caber is that huge telephone pole."
But there are a lot of people who don't realize there are more competitions that run throughout the day. "Putting the stone is basically a shot put. And they toss hammers, weights and sheafs, which is a bale of hay."
While some might believe the games are only for muscle-bound athletes, Bryant thinks otherwise. "It's all in the technique. There are times when the little guys defeat the larger ones."
Dance competitions are also part of the competitions, said Bryant. "The traditional sword dance and Highland Fling will be going on in another part of the park while the athletic games are going on. So there's something that will be happening throughout the day."
Then there will be the band competitions. "Individual piping, drum major and drumming competitions are scheduled in the morning. And the band competitions will be held in the afternoon."
The playing field will be cleared at noon and at 5 p.m. so all the bands in attendance will be able to march together in unison. "That scene always gets the blood going," Bryant said. "It's just magnificent."
In addition, there will be various kiosks and booths set up that will give those attending a chance to see Scottish crafts. Woodworking, tartan sewing and chain-mail linking will all be part of the program.
"Clan representatives from all over Utah will be in attendance showing everyone what their clan's craft is," he explained. "Each will demonstrate their place in Scottish history."
On Sunday, the Kirkn' O' the Tartan, which literally means "blessing the tartan," will begin at 9 a.m. in the park.
"It's a very beautiful ceremony," Bryant said. "Contrary to some popular belief, the ceremony isn't an ancient Scottish ritual. It was invented in 1941 in Washington, D.C., by a reverend named Peter Marshall. He wanted to raise money for the English war funds. It is a ceremony that tells those in attendance that they and their ancestors will not be forgotten."
"The Scottish Festival and Highland Games is an event everyone can enjoy," said Jeff Mann, president of the Utah Scottish Association.
"This event helps answer questions that people may have. People who attend for the first time ask a lot of questions, whether or not they are of Scottish descent. And we love to answer their questions. And I think the festival gives them a bit of 'Braveheart' to take home."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-mail: scott@desnews.com
© 2009 Deseret News Publishing Company | All rights reserved
A wee bit o' Scotland comes to Murray next weekend, June 9-11
By Scott Iwasaki
Deseret News staff writer
Published: Thursday, June 1, 2000 4:10 p.m. MDT
Garry Bryant is of Scottish descent, and the Highland Games are a way for him to get in tune with his roots.
"It was many years ago when I first went to the games," Bryant said. "I had done my genealogy and had hit a wall. There were no other leads I could follow. And I was pretty discouraged. Then I found out about the games and went.
"All of a sudden, I was surrounded by people who had the same culture and traditions that I had."
The games touched Bryant, and since that time, there hasn't been a year when he's missed the festivities.
The 26th annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games will take place next weekend at Murray City Park, 5109 S. Murray Park Ave. (100 East).
The whole shebang begins Friday, June 9, with a Grande Tattoo ceremony at 7:30 p.m. The evening of music and dance will be capped off with fireworks at 10 p.m. Admission is $5.
On Saturday, June 10, the Highland Games will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-12, and children under 6 are free.
The Scottish weekend will end Sunday, June 11, with a Kirkn' O' the Tartan at 9 a.m.
"I take my family every year," Bryant said. "And it gives me a sense of belonging. As a parent, I feel the responsibility to teach the traditions of my ancestors to my children. And, hopefully, they will teach their children, and so on down the line."
Although the Highland Games have been a part of the diverse Salt Lake City scene for a quarter of a century, many people have misconceptions.
"The Grande Tattoo isn't a gathering where people get themselves painted up," said Bryant, now a board member of the Utah Scottish Association. "It stems from a tradition that started back in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the British troops stationed in the lowlands near Belgium would hit the taverns during the evening.
"When it was time for the regiments to head back to camp, a sergeant would walk down the street and poke his head inside the bars and tell the soldiers to pack it up. The soldiers would then fall in line with the sergeant as he went to the other pubs.
"Later, the tradition started incorporating drums and pipes. And that's how the tattoo began," said Bryant. "The word 'tattoo' was derived from the order the sergeant gave."
Many people are familiar with the caber tossing that takes place during the Highland Games, said Bryant. "The caber is that huge telephone pole."
But there are a lot of people who don't realize there are more competitions that run throughout the day. "Putting the stone is basically a shot put. And they toss hammers, weights and sheafs, which is a bale of hay."
While some might believe the games are only for muscle-bound athletes, Bryant thinks otherwise. "It's all in the technique. There are times when the little guys defeat the larger ones."
Dance competitions are also part of the competitions, said Bryant. "The traditional sword dance and Highland Fling will be going on in another part of the park while the athletic games are going on. So there's something that will be happening throughout the day."
Then there will be the band competitions. "Individual piping, drum major and drumming competitions are scheduled in the morning. And the band competitions will be held in the afternoon."
The playing field will be cleared at noon and at 5 p.m. so all the bands in attendance will be able to march together in unison. "That scene always gets the blood going," Bryant said. "It's just magnificent."
In addition, there will be various kiosks and booths set up that will give those attending a chance to see Scottish crafts. Woodworking, tartan sewing and chain-mail linking will all be part of the program.
"Clan representatives from all over Utah will be in attendance showing everyone what their clan's craft is," he explained. "Each will demonstrate their place in Scottish history."
On Sunday, the Kirkn' O' the Tartan, which literally means "blessing the tartan," will begin at 9 a.m. in the park.
"It's a very beautiful ceremony," Bryant said. "Contrary to some popular belief, the ceremony isn't an ancient Scottish ritual. It was invented in 1941 in Washington, D.C., by a reverend named Peter Marshall. He wanted to raise money for the English war funds. It is a ceremony that tells those in attendance that they and their ancestors will not be forgotten."
"The Scottish Festival and Highland Games is an event everyone can enjoy," said Jeff Mann, president of the Utah Scottish Association.
"This event helps answer questions that people may have. People who attend for the first time ask a lot of questions, whether or not they are of Scottish descent. And we love to answer their questions. And I think the festival gives them a bit of 'Braveheart' to take home."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-mail: scott@desnews.com
© 2009 Deseret News Publishing Company | All rights reserved
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