|
St. Louis Scottish
Games |
|
St. Louis Scottish
Games |
SCOTLAND AND SCOTTISH CULTURE
LINKS AND INFORMATION
St. Louis Scottish Games is the organization that has been founded to manage the Scottish Highland Games and other cultural events in the St. Louis area. This page contains information about the history of Scotland and its culture.
Browse down or select
 |
Some Scottish Facts St. Andrew, Patron Saint of Scotland What is a Ceilidh? Who was Robert Burns? Kirkin o' the Tartan |
 |
Links to Informative Sites about Scotland |
 |
Want to know what Scotland looks
like? (Check out these maps) |
St Andrew, The Patron Saint of Scotland
St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland and the official St Andrew's Day is on November 30th. Andrew, the Apostle, was added to the communion of saints of the Pictish Church in the 8th century. The legend was that St Rule, a Greek monk, was told by an angel to take the relics of St Andrew to Scotland. While different versions of the story exist, it seems that a religious shrine was created at "Cennrigmonaid" which is known today as the town of St Andrews. Both Columba and St Andrew became emblems of the Church of Scots which emerged from the Church of Picts and, subsequently, St Andrew was widely accepted as Scotland's patron saint.
Around 1143-60, a new cathedral and priory was located at St Andrews. Pilgrimages to St Andrews were encouraged by Queen Margaret who instituted a free ferry to transport "pilgrims to the Apostle" across the Firth of Forth. In 1320, the identity of the Scottish nation was supported by the "Declaration of Arbroath" in which the words "our patron and protector, Andrew" appear.
Two flags are commonly associated with Scotland: the "lion rampant" which is the Royal Standard of Scotland, and the official St Andrew's Cross which is also known as the "Saltire". The origin of the flag is told in the traditional Scottish legend of the Saltire. It is said that around 832 AD, in the vicinity of Athelstaneford in the Lothians, an army of allied Picts and Scots found themselves surrounded by a large force of Angles. As King Angus led the allies in prayer, a strange thing happened. The vision of a large white cross appeared against the light blue of the clear Lothian sky. The cross was taken as a representation of the X-shaped cross (crux decussata) upon which St Andrew had been martyred. King Angus vowed that if he were somehow to defeat the Angles, he would make St Andrew the patron saint of Scotland. As they say, the rest of the story is history!
The St. Andrew Society of Greater St. Louis is a major sponsor of the St. Louis Scottish Games.
A Ceilidh (pronounced “Kay-lay”) can be one of many things, related to friends visiting. The word derives from the Gaelic with the translation being “a visit”. It can also mean a house party, a concert, or an evening of informal Scottish dancing. In southern Scotland, Ceilidhs tend to have more dancing, while in the north they tend to have more singing - unless the advert says “Ceilidh dance” which becomes obvious! In any case, dancing at Ceilidhs is informal and the purpose is the enjoyment of performing in the dance. Scottish Country Dancing and Highland Dancing are often more formal and performed as an exhibition, while Ceilidh Dancing is for participation (let ye’r hair doon). Ceilidh bands are regaining popularity in Scotland, and the first world champions were “Fire in the Glen”, now called “Tannas”.
Rabbie Burns,
The Bard
Robert Burns was born in 1759 on the Carrick border where singing songs and writing new ones were part of the local tradition - it was a great diversion to the drudgery of hard farm work. As his fame as national Bard became established, Burns continued to write in his own Scots dialect, defying those who governed and saving a national heritage. In searching for the roots of a poetry deep in the hearts of the people of Scotland, Burns introduced something startling and daring into the literature, at a time when Scots was no longer regarded as a central literary language. His genius created a style which combined the vernacular with the literary standard to express the manners and emotions of all kinds of people.
“Lallans” was a dialect of Scots spoken and written in the
Lowlands, and considered a worthy literary language. Despite many attempts to have him
change, Burns persisted in writing in what was referred to as the “Doric”. On
the few occasions when he did write in stylised English, as for example his “Address
to Edinburgh”, Burns felt that he was acting a part and never felt secure in those
works. Burns was ahead of his time, and his true interest lay in the metric irregularity
of Scottish folk-song - which he also used very effectively to promote nationalistic
sentiments. These poems represented a turning back to the period when Scottish literature
was both Scottish and literary, and to folk tradition which was able to survive a
temporary eclipse in the 17th century.
Burns was the parochial poet who started rhyming for fun, and a man of independent mind
who defiantly wrote in the Doric. Ultimately, he attained the universal admiration that
his great work deserves. Robert Burns died in 1796, two hundred years ago: and left behind
a revitalized cultural heritage that we are all still proud of today.
The St. Andrew Society of Greater St. Louis organizes a "Burns Dinner" in January of each year, to celebrate the life and works of Rabbie, The Bard. Several hundred people attend this grand Scottish event and show. If interested then check the web site or call (636) 519 7979.
Kirkin' O' the
Tartans
For native Scots arriving in the USA, the tradition of "Kirkin' o' the Tartans" is something of a surprise. It seems as if we should know all about it, yet we don't. For years I thought "how could I have missed this as a youth?" Recently, I learned about the origins from the Rev. Jim Flom who credits a George Murdock with the following explanation:
The ceremony had its beginning in America with the St Andrew’s Society of Washington, DC during the early years of WW II. Dr. Peter Marshall, a native Scot, was Pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC, from October 3, 1937 to his death January 25, 1949. He was also Chaplain of the US Senate and a member of the St Andrew’s Society. He spoke many times in support of the British War Relief. His sermons were popular, and when, in response to requests, they were printed, proceeds from sales were designated for relief programs in Britain. When asked for a title to his sermon of May 2, 1943, Dr. Marshall suggested the name, "Kirkin’ O’ The Tartans".
During World War II, the St Andrew’s Society of Washington began to hold services of prayer for the subjects of Britain. These services continued in the Washington area and soon came to be known as "the Kirkin’", an annual event of the Society. Today the ceremony is held in the Washington National Cathedral each year on a Sunday near St Andrew’s Day. Today, throughout this great country of ours, we Scots celebrate the Kirkin’ on the Sunday after most, if not all, of the Highland Games held in the States. Many churches hold their own Kirkin’s around St Andrew's Day and/or any other Sunday of the year they so choose.
In most Kirkin’ services the Clan Banners are carried in procession by Clansmen in Scottish attire into the sanctuary led by at least one Piper playing "Scotland the Brave" and at a given point during the service, the tartans are blessed in recognition of our heritage.
The service is briefly as follows: The Beadle (leader) commands "Gentlemen raise your tartans". All Clansmen respond, in a loud voice, "We raise these tartans to Almighty God". It is then declared, by the Beadle or his appointee, "On behalf of all Clans represented here today, we raise these tartans to Almighty God in appreciation of our heritage and ask His blessings on His servants. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen". The Minister then offers a prayer of dedication. At the end of the prayer the recessional commences with the Piper(s) playing and the congregation singing "Amazing Grace" as the tartans are processed out of the sanctuary.
Links to
Interesting Scottish Information
Highland Games and Festivals
(World calendar)
McLaren of Missouri Scottish site (links to lots of Scottish stuff)
National Tartan Day (April 6th in the
U.S.)
St. Andrew
Society of Greater St. Louis
Taste of Scotland (Food and Accommodation guide)
Events in Scotland
Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Helmsdale Highland Games 2002 (just north of Inverness)
General History, Legends, and Culture of Scotland
Castles of Scotland
Well organized listing of links to dozens of Scottish castles.
Celtic Net
Bringing together the traditions and culture of the Celtic people
via the Web.
Culloden
Culloden, April 16th, 1746. If you don't know what this is about
then the whole history can be reviewed at this site. (Parental guidance recommended)
Dates in Scottish History
A summary review of notable dates in Scotland's history, from 80 AD
to the present.
Gaelic Culture
Failte Romhaibh...to the Gaelic language and culture.
Gatweway to Scotland
Award winning site from Edinburgh University.
Gathering of the Clans
Events, culture, folklore, heraldry, clan and society information.
Nessie on the Net
It's true. The Loch Ness Monster has been sighted on the web.
Sgian Dhu Interactive
One of the most comprehensive selections of tartans, and links to
other Scottish topics.
Stones of Scotland
Cairns, brochs, standing stones, stone cirles....this site has them
all, and you can make a "virtual" visit to over 30 major sites.
The Stone of Destiny
A real stone, and one of the great symbolic items of ancient
history.
Wars of Independence
Eight chapters written to describe the Scottish Wars of
Independence.
Famous Scots
About Burns
All about the Bard and you can review the words of over 100 of his poems and songs.
Billy Connolly
Website dedicated to the master of comedy.
Great Scots
From St. Andrew to Alexander Graham Bell: you can read about them
all here.
John Muir Centre
About the Scot, John Muir, who was a pioneer of nature conservation
and founder of the U.S. National Parks system.
Scotland's Hall
of Fame
Listing of famous Scots, with dates and some reproductions of their
work: lots of pictures so it can take some time to load.
William
Wallace (select below)
Music and Dance of Scotland
Alex Sutherland & His Cronies
Best folk singing group in the U.S. MidWest. Check out the some of
the songs at the site.
Bagpipe Web
Complete resource for the pipes: makers, concerts, bands,
organizations.....
Battlefield Band
All about the band with concert dates and tour schedules.
Scottish Song Lyrics
The words for many of the auld favorites.
We'll be adding to this page. Haste ye back!
CONTACT via
e-mail at macmail@stlouis-scottishgames.com
 |
 |
 |
This site was designed and is maintained by StrathKirn® Inc for SLSG
Copyright© 2000-2007 St. Louis Scottish Games, Missouri, USA
