Scottish Festival Peeves?

**Nighthawk** · 11th September 10, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Er, not this Jock! I know you mean SCOTT, aka M o R, aka MacMillan of Rathdown.

I'm so used to it being you!

So... To correct things- Thanks for the info, MoR!

**Zardoz** · 11th September 10, 08:17 PM

So because of David Buick, the Scottish-born American inventor best known for founding the Buick Motor Co. and developing the overhead valve train, we have British car shows at the Highland Games. Why not a Buick show?
Based on those mental gymnastics, Since J.M. Barrie was Scottish, people could dress like Peter Pan and Wendy at the games too.

**Cygnus** · 11th September 10, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

Based on those mental gymnastics, Since J.M. Barrie was Scottish, people could dress like Peter Pan and Wendy at the games too.

Don't they?!?

**McConnell Mor** · 11th September 10, 09:12 PM

I am Glad that someone put this poll on here. Nothing embarasses me more than when I take my friends to the Highland Games, having touted my blood so vehemently, only to see fools running about dressed as elves or other Disney Characters. I believe there is a place for such acts, and it is a circus.

**Nighthawk** · 11th September 10, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by McConnell Mor

I am Glad that someone put this poll on here. Nothing embarasses me more than when I take my friends to the Highland Games, having touted my blood so vehemently, only to see fools running about dressed as elves or other Disney Characters. I believe there is a place for such acts, and it is a circus.

Naw... It's the renaissance festivals!

**AFS1970** · 12th September 10, 05:41 AM

I will probably come down a peg or two in some of your minds for knowing this, but Today in not Talk Like a Pirate Day, it is on Sunday the 19th. I remember it only because it is the day after my anniversary, not because I celebrate it.

**artificer** · 12th September 10, 06:17 AM

I can't wait for next Sunday. There's nothing wrong with "talk like a pirate day"... We do it because my son (who is 4) loves it. I make Jerked Chicken, Caribbean beans and rice, there are rum drinks for those who can, and my son dresses up.

Now, if I were doing those things at a Highland Games, however

It's not what you do, it's WHERE you do it.

ith:

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 12th September 10, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

So because of David Buick, the Scottish-born American inventor best known for founding the Buick Motor Co. and developing the overhead valve train, we have British car shows at the Highland Games. Why not a Buick show?
Based on those mental gymnastics, Since J.M. Barrie was Scottish, people could dress like Peter Pan and Wendy at the games too.

...er, to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever shown up at any Highland, sorry, Scottish Games dressed up as Mr. Buick, or disguised as one of his cars...

Generally speaking, in North America, Highland Games aren't. They are a celebration of the Scottish culture and heritage of those attending. If games organizers focused only on athletics to the exclusion of Scottish country dancing, piping competitions, clan tents and vendors, I'd be willing to bet that people would stay away in droves. Proof of this, if proof be needed, is that Highland Games in Scotland (which don't have all of the add-ons of North American games) tend to be much smaller in terms of attendance and public interest.

But, back to the point, which is that North American games are far more focused on Scottish culture and heritage than on anything else. The question seems to be, "what's wrong with that?" Would anyone go to games that didn't have all these extra elements? Probably, but certainly not in the numbers that attend games today.

And as far as J.M Barrie is concerned, the Greenville Scottish Games has, since it's inception, sponsored a "young writers" competition in conjunction with the local city and county schools, in the hopes of encouraging a budding J.M Barrie, or Robert Louis Stevenson, or, dare one suggest it, another Robert Burns, to add future volumes to the body of literature created by Scots.

Thus far, at least at Greenville, Peter Pan and Wendy haven't put in an appearance. Although nearly 100 mostly British cars did, as did the about 5000 cars that brought more than 20,000 visitors to the Greenville Scottish Games on Saturday.

So, thank you David Dunbar Buick, wherever you are. You've enabled a lot of people to share in, and celebrate, Scottish culture and heritage. And that's why we salute you (and John Dunlop, inventor of the pneumatic tire) at our local Scottish Games with a gathering of classic British cars, which are-- after all-- part and parcel of our Scottish heritage.

**Mael Coluim** · 12th September 10, 02:57 PM

I would love to re-live my youth and drive a TR-6 to the Games!

**Papa Slob** · 12th September 10, 05:18 PM

I am one of the goofy looking guys you may be laughing at. I'm 5' 5" tall, and a solid 207 lbs. I wear my kilts, UK's and home made, at the hips. If I wear a kilt in the traditional style, I look even shorter then I already do. If I wear the tall socks, again, I might just as well wear my jeans. So if you spot me rooting about in my low riders and sandals, be kind. We are all goofy in somebodies eyes.

Papa Slob
Royce