A profile of the traditional Scottish games

Scottish Games, also known as Highland Games, are held each year in Scotland and other countries to celebrate Scottish heritage and culture. These events are designed to showcase competitions in Highland dancing, bagpiping and drumming, and Scottish athletic events. Sometimes there are herding dog trials and exhibitions as well.

A typical Highland Games will feature several athletic competitions. The Caber Toss is probably the signature event of the games. A long pine pole or log is held upright, and then tossed end over end. Another popular event is the Hammer Toss. A round metal ball weighing 16-22 pounds is attached to the end of a 4-foot long wooden shaft. Without moving the feet, the hammer is whirled around the head and thrown for distance. The Clachneart event (Stone of Strength) is considered the forerunner of modern shot put. It is performed in a similar manner, except that a 20 pound stone is used instead of a metal ball.

There are two Highland Games events that the use of 28 and 56 pounds of metal weights. In the distance events, the competitor uses a spinning technology to lift the weight as much as it can throw. In the event that the amount of competitor tries to keep the weight on a horizontal bar that can be setup to run in different heights. The launch event is similar to the sheaf £ 20 bundles of hay (sheaf) is launched with a pitchfork in a horizontal bar raised.

Two of the largest Highland Games are held in the United States. Grandfather Mountain gamesNorth Carolina attract over 50,000 spectators and competitors each July. The festival in Pleasanton, California, just east of San Francisco, has been held since 1865.

Scottsboro, Alabama will host the 20th North Alabama Scottish Festival and Highland Games on October 2, 2010. The games are sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Scottish Society, and will be held at the Goose Pond Colony Amphitheatre. The activities will begin at 9:00am and run until 5:30pm. The competitive Highland Games will include Hammer Toss, Caber Toss, Sheaf Toss, Clachneart, and 25 and 56 pound weight events in height and distance. There will also be entertainment, including Celtic music, Highland dancing, bagpipe and drum bands, and Scottish storytelling. The opening ceremony will feature a Parade of Tartans. The honored host clan for this year will be Clan McDougall. The festival is a great opportunity for visitors and residents of Scottsboro to celebrate the area's Scottish heritage and learn about Scottish culture.