Highland Games1 with their traditional elements of feats of
strength, music and tartan have a long history in Scotland and are a
reflection of much of Scotland's past and the events that have shaped the
society of today. As such games have existed for so long within Scottish
society they are valued by and identified with by Scots. This can be seen
in their replication across the globe in communities where groups of
Scots have taken up residence. This paper will look at the history and
nature of the Highland Games, the migration of Scots, the replication of
the games of their homeland elsewhere and also the evolution of the
format, content and meaning of highland Games both at home and abroad
in more recent times.
The Highland Games
