"Scotland, like most countries, has some weird traditions. One of the more obscure traditions the Scottish celebrate are the Highland Games. With participants from all over the world, it is a spectacle of muscle and skill." -- Elias yuasa, 7th grade
Scotland, like most countries, has some weird traditions. One of the more obscure traditions the Scottish celebrate are the Highland Games. These intense games include all sorts of physical challenges for the world’s best and strongest. With participants from all over the world, it is a spectacle of muscle and skill.
But what exactly are the Scottish Highland Games? In short, they are an intense series of games that require the utmost skill. The competitions can range anywhere from carrying the heaviest stone, to throwing the cooked organs of a sheep as far as possible, while still keeping them edible. These competitions originate from a variety of places, all imbued in Scottish culture. Such as their dancing competitions to show the Scotts’ unique way of music and dance. Other games, such as tug of war and caber toss, are simply to show strength.
As 6th grader Winter Johnson says, “It’s important for these games to continue so people can have fun competing in silly competitions.” Unfortunately, the games took a break in the 1930s only returning very recently in 2022, according to The Times.
For such an intense and serious game, you need an equally intense and serious trophy. The trophy the Highland Games use is known as the Rose Bowl. Its majesty is one to behold: an elegant silver rose-shaped chalice, supported by a lovely wooden base only a few inches tall.
Sadly, when the games slowed down in the 1930s, the trophy was lost. The games were still able to start again in 2022, just without their glorious trophy making it a tragic loss to Scotland. Per tradition, their system of awarding the trophy required the trophy to be returned each year for the next victor, according to the New York Times. But when the games disappeared, the trophy went missing for nearly a century with no hope of it ever returning. Until recently.
But what exactly are the Scottish Highland Games? In short, they are an intense series of games that require the utmost skill. The competitions can range anywhere from carrying the heaviest stone, to throwing the cooked organs of a sheep as far as possible, while still keeping them edible. These competitions originate from a variety of places, all imbued in Scottish culture. Such as their dancing competitions to show the Scotts’ unique way of music and dance. Other games, such as tug of war and caber toss, are simply to show strength.
As 6th grader Winter Johnson says, “It’s important for these games to continue so people can have fun competing in silly competitions.” Unfortunately, the games took a break in the 1930s only returning very recently in 2022, according to The Times.
For such an intense and serious game, you need an equally intense and serious trophy. The trophy the Highland Games use is known as the Rose Bowl. Its majesty is one to behold: an elegant silver rose-shaped chalice, supported by a lovely wooden base only a few inches tall.
Sadly, when the games slowed down in the 1930s, the trophy was lost. The games were still able to start again in 2022, just without their glorious trophy making it a tragic loss to Scotland. Per tradition, their system of awarding the trophy required the trophy to be returned each year for the next victor, according to the New York Times. But when the games disappeared, the trophy went missing for nearly a century with no hope of it ever returning. Until recently.
After years of searching for the trophy to no avail, Adrian Taylor, grandchild to the victor of the Highland Games in the 1930s, found the Rose Bowl. Taylor found the majestic trophy after doing some house cleaning eventually revealing the crockery.
Everyone is happy about the bowl’s return, especially Charlie Murray, chair of the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association. “The Cabrach Rose Bowl represents a key component of the history of Scottish Highland Games,” he said in an interview with The Scotsman. “Silverware like this is steeped in the heritage of traditional Highland sport, and it is culturally very significant that such prizes remain as the reward for the finest athletes that grace our games."
Now for the first time in nearly a century, the coveted Rose Bowl is being awarded to the Highland Games victor, restoring the games to their proper glory. While we may find the Highland games absurd, the camaraderie and friendships that are born from it are no different than Oakland's football games or OSA’s spirit week.
Everyone is happy about the bowl’s return, especially Charlie Murray, chair of the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association. “The Cabrach Rose Bowl represents a key component of the history of Scottish Highland Games,” he said in an interview with The Scotsman. “Silverware like this is steeped in the heritage of traditional Highland sport, and it is culturally very significant that such prizes remain as the reward for the finest athletes that grace our games."
Now for the first time in nearly a century, the coveted Rose Bowl is being awarded to the Highland Games victor, restoring the games to their proper glory. While we may find the Highland games absurd, the camaraderie and friendships that are born from it are no different than Oakland's football games or OSA’s spirit week.