Transcript Scottish Traditions

Scottish Traditions
Bagpipes
Bagpipes
• Bagpipes are known
to have been played
in Scotland in the
14th century and
current form of the
instrument came into
being in the 17th
century when a third
drone was added.
• Bagpipes are a
class of musical
instrument, aero
phones using
enclosed reeds fed
from a constant
reservoir of air in
the form of a bag. It
is composed with
bag and many
pipes.
• The most common method
of supplying air to the bag
is by blowing into a
blowpipe, or blowstick. In
some pipes the player must
cover the tip of the
blowpipe with his tongue
while inhaling, but modern
blowpipes are usually fitted
with a non-return valve
which eliminates this need.
There is too a chanter, the
melody pipe, played by one
or two hands.
Highland
Games
• Highland Games are
one of the great
spectacles of Scotland
where athletes,
musicians and dancers
come together to
compete for prizes and
honors. Most Highland
Games feature Scottish
country dancing and
piping competitions as
well as foot races and,
very often, cycle races.
• Competition takes place
across all age groups from 6
to 60. Perhaps the most
popular element of a
Highland Games is the heavy
events like tossing the caber
and throwing the hammer
where strong men compete
against each other in
spectacular trials of strength.
Highland Games are held
annually in many Scottish
towns and villages. A number
of Great Scotland members
are venues for particularly
well known Games.
Kilts
• The Scots have
worn kilts for
centuries but
today's kilts look
little like those worn
by our ancestors.
Today Scotsmen
wear kilts in place
of trousers, but for
our ancestors the
kilt covered their
whole body from
their knees to their
shoulders.
• The woollen cloth of the kilt would
be belted at the waist and then
wrapped around their torso and
fastened at the left shoulder. This
left the right arm free for carrying
a sword. For our ancestors the kilt
was a warm, loose garment that
allowed freedom of movement
and could also serve as a blanket
when sleeping. If Highlanders
were sleeping outdoors, it was
common for them to dip their kilt
in water before going to sleep.
The wool in the kilt would swell
with moisture making it wind proof
while retaining body heat.
The End
•
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