Scottish Bagpipes and Dancing - Part 1

Did you know that bagpipes did not originate in Scotland??

Once a year the high schools in the region have a Scottish Bagpipe and Dancing competition. My grandfather was Scottish and I have always loved bagpipe music so this year I went to take pictures to post. Yes, I know, it is NOT an instrument most people like but the music sure had my feet tapping. :)

Some people had brought this dog with them but I am sure it was a horse disguised as a dog. I have never seen anyhting this BIG!! I can imagine how much food it must eat every day and they are sure to have no robberies at their house!!
There was a nice crowd attending and a great excuse to get outdoors and into the sun for a while.

The inhabitants of the Scottish Highlands were originally of Celtic descent, and a small number of them still speak Gaelic, an ancient Celtic language which is now being encouraged once again in schools. In the southern part of the nation, the people are descended from ancient Scots with liberal inputs by Nordic influences and a bit of Anglo-Saxon.

Each band is made up of only pipes and drums and marched onto the field.

They formed a circle in front of the judges and played their hearts out. As you can see, various tartan of the clans was worn.

The sky was really beautiful with criss-cross clouds in it.

This was "The Boss" for the day. An ex-army fellow.

The original kiltThe feileadh mor was a longer untailored garment, around five metres in length, which was gathered and then belted at the waist to provide cover for both the upper and lower body. From the waist down, the feileadh mor resembled a modern kilt while the remaining material above the waist was draped over the shoulder and pinned there. This upper portion could be arranged in a variety of ways around the shoulders according to the demands of weather, temperature or freedom of movement required. At the end of day, the belt could be unbuckled to transform the feileadh mor into a warm covering for the night. The Gaelic plaid actually means 'blanket'.

Now I wonder, what DO they wear under it?? LOL!!

Each tartan has its own specific style of hose to go with it.

Tartan has an ancient history. The earliest known tartan in Scotland can be dated to the third or fourth century AD. In other parts of the world, tartan cloth has been found dating to approximately 3000 BC. Originally, tartan designs had no names, and no symbolic meaning. All tartan cloth was hand woven, and usually supplied locally. While it may have been true that certain colors or pattern motifs were more common in some areas than others, no regulated or defined "clan tartan" system ever existed.

Tartan was so identified with the Highland Gael that after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the British government, in the Act of Proscription, forbade the wearing of tartan (among other things) in the Highlands, in an attempt to suppress the rebellious Scottish culture.
The judges in the background looking sternly on.

Though clan tartans are the most well known, tartans can represent many different things. Some tartans represent families, towns, district, corporations, individuals, events.