Culture
The Highlands and Islands derive their culture mainly from Celtic roots. The Celts gave the region its literature, its oral traditions, its song and dance, its arts and crafts. The language of the Celts, Gaelic, underpinned it all.
The Gaelic language
Historically, the region’s indigenous language, and one of Europe’s oldest, Gaelic was spoken as far east as Braemar in Aberdeenshire and Glen Shee in Perthshire. By the 20th century, however, it had gone into serious decline. Many of the young folk, while understanding the language, preferred to speak in English. Gradually English replaced Gaelic as the language in the home. Gaelic was to lose ground to English even in localities that were once strongholds of the language.
But a revival in all things Gaelic has taken place over the last few decades. The Scottish Parliament has recently granted the language official status. In schools, Gaelic-medium teaching is being introduced. At last progress is being made towards re-establishing it as a national language.
Highland Games
Highland Games can best be defined as a social gathering organised around sporting and musical competitions. The origin of the Games remains unclear, but legend has it that the Games began in the reign of Malcolm Canmore (1031-1093). He organised a hill race up Creag Choinnich at Braemar to find the fastest runners, those fit enough to act as royal messengers. However, it is more likely that the games originated as a method of choosing the best men-at-arms through athletic events that tested the contestants’ strength, stamina, accuracy and agility.
The competitions then were much the same as now, involving physical feats and musical events. Most Games include track races, a hill race, jumping, and the heavy events – putting the stone, throwing the hammer, tug-of-war, and tossing the caber. At the same time, there
are competitions in Highland dancing, and piping (both ceòl beag/light and ceòl mòr/ classical music, usually referred to as pibroch). At least one pipe band is normally present.
The Mallaig & Morar Highland Games will be held on Sunday 7th August 2011. Possibly the most westerly mainland highland games, the gathering prides itself in being a family orientated occasion including many children events and a Junior Heavy competition in addition to the traditional events.
Music
Three instruments figure strongly in traditional Gaelic or Highland music – bagpipe, fiddle and harp (or clàrsach). The latter having enjoyed a revival since the 1970s. Highland music has flourished and been given a new, modern setting in recent years. Many festivals (Feis) devoted to the many branches of ‘Celtic’ music are held in the Highlands each year, usually in the summer months.
Art
The local landscape and seascape is an art lovers and photographers paradise. Perhaps the perfect place for those who plan to spend part of their vacation committing to easel or film. It is hard to find a British landscape artist or photographer who has not captured a local scene in one of their collections.
