Scottish Culture - Scotland - page 942

TARTAN

This distinctive checked pattern, traditionally associated with the kilt, has become the definitive symbol of Scot-
land, inspiring skirts, scarves, blankets, ties, key-fobs and a thousand other souvenirs. The pattern is thought to
date back to at least the Roman period, though it is romantically associated with the Gaels, who arrived from Ire-
land in the 6th century. What is certain is that a tartan plaid had become the standard uniform of Highlanders by
the start of 18th century. Following the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the Disarming Act banned the wearing of
Highland dress in an attempt to undermine clan solidarity.

In the 19th century, tartan got caught up in the cult of so-called 'Balmorality' - Queen Victoria's patronage of
Scottish culture - and many of the setts (tartan patterns) now associated with particular clans were created out of
thin air by a pair of brothers known as the Sobieski Stuarts, who claimed descent from Bonnie Prince Charlie. The
brothers' setts were based on a 'lost' document dating back to the 15th century and they published a hugely suc-
cessful book of invented tartans, The Costume of the Clans, which became established as the genuine tartans of
many Highland clans before their elaborate fraud was exposed. Today every clan, and indeed every football team,
has one or more distinctive tartans, though few date back more than 150 years.

You can search for your own clan tartan at www.tartansauthority.com .

Golf
Scotland is the home of golf ( www.scottishgolfunion.org ). The game was probably inven-
ted here in the 12th century, and the world's oldest documentary evidence of a game being
played (dating from 1456) was on Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh.
Today, there are more than 550 golf courses
in Scotland - that's more per capita than in any
other country. The sport is hugely popular and
much more egalitarian than in other countries,
with lots of affordable, council-owned courses.
There are many world-famous courses too,
from Muirfield in East Lothian and Turnberry
and Troon in Ayrshire, to St Andrews' Old
Course in Fife. For more, Click here .

Shinty ( camanachd in Gaelic) is a fast and physical
ball-and-stick sport similar to Ireland's hurling,
with more than a little resemblance to clan warfare.
It's an indigenous Scottish game played mainly in
the Highlands, and the most prized trophy is the
Camanachd Cup. For more information, see
www.shinty.com .

Highland Games
Highland games are held in Scotland throughout the summer, and not just in the High-
lands. You can find dates and details of Highland games held all over the country on the
website VisitScotland ( www.visitscotland.com ) - follow the links What to See & Do/
What's On/Highland Games.
The traditional sporting events are accompanied by piping and dancing competitions
and attract locals and tourists alike. Some events are peculiarly Scottish, particularly those