Today, September 5, 2015, your language study trip to Scotland this past summer might well come back to mind… Why? Because today marks the 200th anniversary of the legendary Braemar Gathering! What is it all about? Where does the gathering take place? Our teams have all the answers!
At the heart of the Highland Games
The Gathering in Braemar—known as the Braemar Gathering during your language study trip to Scotland—is the quintessential Scottish Olympics. During a previous Did you know, LEC had already devoted a few paragraphs to these legendary Highland Games, a tradition combining culture, sports, and fun.
200 Years of Competition
If the mere mention of the Braemar Gathering stirs such passion among the most ardent fans of the Highland Games, it is because that is where the extraordinary spectacle of javelin throws and log-throwing took root. And this year’s edition has plenty to get fans excited, as the event will be celebrating its 200th anniversary! Indeed, the Braemar Royal Highland Society was founded in 1815—an organization that would go on to orchestrate the famous games featured in media as diverse as literature and comic books.
Queen Elizabeth II, a regular attendee
Appreciated for its true worth by Queen Elizabeth II —as well as her husband, children, grandchildren, and, who knows, perhaps even great-grandchildren—the show has transcended national borders. Thus, you can admire these valiant competitors during a language study trip to Scotland, but also in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, or even Brazil.
Caber toss and hammer throw
To give you a closer look at the Braemar Gathering, located about 150 kilometers north of Edinburgh, LEC can’t resist introducing you to some of its flagship events. Grab your dictionaries:
- Highland Dancing
- Caber Toss
- Relay Race
- Long Leap
- Children's Sack Race
- Placing the Stone
- Hammer Throw
- Hill Race