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Canadian Descendants of the Frasers in Dryburn |
HIGHLAND GAMES
of FERGUS & ANTIGONISH
It is believed that some form of the Scottish Highland Games was in existance as part of the Pictish/Celtic culture for thousands of years. However, the first recorded holding of the games as an organized event was in the 11th. century when King Malcolm (Canmore) III held a Royal contest to find the swiftest and fastest men in his realm. To the winner came the honour of becoming the Kings official message courier. After the defeat of Prince Charlie at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the Act of Proscription effective put an end to the games. The first "modern" revival of the Games took place in Falkirk, Scotland in 1781. The following is an account of our visit to the Fergus Highland games in Ontario, Canada, which is fairly typical of the games now held around the world.
Photos (c) Barry Fraser all rights reserved
On a humid Saturday August 8th with the sun beating down from a cloudless sky, Barry, Linda, Stuart and Steve visited the Highland Games and Celtic Festival at Fergus, Ontario. One of the largest Highland Games in North America. After an hour wait just to enter the parking lot (a farmer's field cleared for the purpose), the sound of the pipes final drew us in and a sea of kilted humanity surrounded us. (click on any thumbnail picture to enlarge)
We first visited Tent of the Clan Fraser , where we were greeted by W. Neil Fraser (in the Fraser Hunting green Kilt) and his wife Marie (discussing genealogy with a visitor in the tent). No that's not a picture of Neil talking with us, I'm not brave enough for a kilt just yet! Both Neil and Marie proved gracious hosts and Linda and I enjoyed a lively discussion of our adventures in researching our family histories.
And then the games began. We found a relatively shady spot at the back of the field where a small forest of trees provided some protection for red headed people with white freckled skin. The colour guard streamed onto the field, flags snapping in a welcome breeze.
The games were officially opened by singer John Allen Cameron while guest Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series of books (seated), and guest of honour Lloyd Robertson (standing just behind her), news anchor for CTV National News, look on.
Then the the huge field was filled with scores of colourful highland dancers. Their graceful movements seemed effortless but as they left the field the exhaustion of dancing in the extreme heat and humidity of the day was written in their young faces.
The massive crowd roared its approval as the massed bands took to the field. A row of people with beach umbrellas had set up in front of us blocking our view so I ran to the top of a hill overlooking the field, arriving as the bands reached their full formation.
For a moment, after the last band moved into place, there was a hush and the day paused in silence. Then the bags groaned in unison and the pipers surged forward like waves on fair sized lake. The groaning resolved into sweet music and people rose to their feet in spontaneous applause.
We had a picnic in a shady glen behind the stands, strolled the various craft shops, toured the tents of other clans, and listened to a lecture by Diana Gaboldon on the writing of her books. But always through the day, the pipes could be heard echoing across the fields. We will not soon forget our day at Fergus.
In July of 1999 we had the opportunity to visit the home of the oldest Highland Games in North America at Antigonish, Nova Scotia. To view some of the remarkable wood scultures associated with these games,click here.