Scottish Fest is bigger than ever

PAYSON — Athletes who compete in ancient Scottish games have 20 field records to beat when they gather for the 22nd annual Scottish Festival, said committee member Sydney Young.

The tradition of Highland Games dates back more than 10 centuries. However, the earliest modern games date to 1826. Anciently, the feats of skill and strength schooled Highland youths for the rigors of manhood, Young said. Clan chiefs used the games to test the mettle of their men and to assign positions of leadership.

Among them is a game called "Tossing the Caber," which is a straight, tapered log between 15-20 feet long and weighing 70-100 pounds.

"The sport is played with reference to an imaginary clock: standing at the bottom (at the 6 o'clock position), the competitor attempts to toss the caber end over end with its end landing at precisely 12 o'clock," she said.

Scottish legends offer many origins for the game. One claims Highlanders tossed a log to create a foot bridge across a stream. Others say it was a way to get logs into rivers to float them to ship-building areas. Still another says it was the way folks raised the main roof beams for a new home.

• "Tossing the sheaf," which uses a 16-20 pound sheaf in a burlap bag. Each competitor has three chances to hurl the sheaf over a horizontal bar raised after each round.

• "Hammer throw," which uses a heavy, long-handled blacksmith hammer, thrown for the best.

• The "Braemar Stone" is thrown much like the modern shot putt.

Along with their games ancient clansmen invented dances which are also part of the festival:

• The "Highland Fling," was performed originally on a small round battle shield which had a sharp spike in its center. The dancer's footwork was crucial to avoid injury.

• "Sword Dance" or Gillie Callum dates to at least 57 B.C. The Caledonians stuck swords and spear handles in the ground and danced in and out of the lethal assortment.

• "Seann Triubhas" (pronounced shawn trews) and translates as "old trews or trousers," commemorates the lifting of the ban on kilts in 1782.

• "Irish Jig" portrays a mad Irish washer woman who scolds, threatens and stamps her feet at children who have dirtied her freshly washed laundry.