A celebration of the contribution made by the clans to the culture and history of Scotland.
The Gathering 2009
The Gathering 2009 is one of the biggest events happening in Scotland next year, and will play a signifi cant part in the Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme. This once-in-a-lifetime event will bring together thousands of people from all over the world, to celebrate the culture and history of Scotland.
This is a unique opportunity to learn more about and enjoy the very best of Scotland, both past and present.
The Gathering 2009 takes place in the capital city of Edinburgh on 25 and 26 July and is set to be the largest Highland Games and the greatest international clan gathering ever held in this country. Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park, with its rugged crags, provides the perfect setting for the Highland Games, where visitors can watch traditional Scottish activities and enjoy the best of contemporary Scotland too.
Some of the strongest men in the world will be battling against each other to win the Deuchars World Highland Games Heavy Events Championship. This grueling and enthralling competition features traditional Scottish sports such as tossing the caber, putting the stone and throwing the hammer.
Scotland’s iconic musical instrument, the bagpipes, will be played by the best bands and the leading individual pipers in the world. This will also be a chance to hear the distinctive sounds of other traditional instruments such as the clasarch, Bodhram and fi ddle, and the contemporary beat of Celtic crossover.
There will be a traditional Highland dancing competition with around 800 young people, bringing a blend of youth and colour to The Gathering 2009 from all points of the globe.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy A Flavour of Scotland, with the opportunity to taste and savour the fi nest local food and drink, as well as take learn about the nation’s greatest export, whisky, through tasting sessions and master classes. There will be tartan, tweeds and cashmere, and the very best arts and crafts.
For anyone interested in fi nding out more about the ancient Scottish clans, they can visit the clan village and meet the clan chiefs, or hear more about the history of the nation through traditional storytelling.
The centrepiece of the weekend will be an unprecedented Clan Parade on the evening of 25 July, when around 5000 people will march from the Palace of Holyroodhouse along the historic Royal Mile to a spell-binding Historic Pageant on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, where the dramatic story of Scotland’s history will unfold. The parade alone, with clan members all wearing their own distinctive, colourful tartans, will be an amazing spectacle.
This is a one-off occasion to enjoy Scotland at its best and see what the nation has to offer, so why not join us in Edinburgh and be a part of history.
For further information and tickets, please log on to www.thegathering2009.com