San Diego Scottish Highland Games
(retold byMarilyn McPhie) Long, long ago there were mounds in Scotland. Some exist to this day. But in the long ago times, each mound was said to have a mound-dweller, which they called a hogboon. It’s difficult to say just what a hogboon looked like. People didn’t write down the descriptions, because they assumed that […]
Contributed by Carolyn Frisbie My husband and I were in Scotland last year and I took a lot of pics that I will gladly share with you. My mother was born in Scotland, making me half Scottish so I feel very connected to that beautiful country. This top pic is outside of the hotel just
Contributed by Marilyn McPhie It was late in the afternoon on the last day of the year, when a man trudged through the snow into a small village in the highlands of Scotland. He was shabbily dressed in an old coat and a ragged hat and gloves, and he walked with a slow, tired
New Year’s Eve in Scotland is called Hogmanay. This joyful gathering was especially celebrated in the years when Christmas was ‘banned’, and celebrations could last for days! Edinburgh now hosts one of the world’s biggest and most famous Hogmanay street parties, with an amazing fireworks display. All over the country, Scottish people brighten up the
There’s plenty to do in Scotland in the winter, and many Scots love getting in the festive spirit. But did you know that Christmas was banned there for almost four centuries? Before the Reformation in 1560, Christmas in Scotland had been a religious feasting day. Then, with the powerful Kirk frowning upon anything related to
Contributed by Marilyn McPhie It was December 25, 1914. World War I was five months old, and already there were more than a million casualties. There was fierce fighting everywhere, it seemed. Soldiers had spent their days surrounded by the sound of bullets. But it was Christmas. And that changed everything. Some have said that
Contributed by Marilyn McPhie, as told by storyteller Liz Weir What would you do if you suddenly received a gift of gold from a stranger? Many years ago, there was an old couple that lived in a small cottage in the glens. Things were not going well for them. They had one cow which had
(Left) Me and my mom dressed in full chattan on The RMS Queen Mary before we had dinner at Sir Winston’s and the captain asked if he could escort us and so I asked for a picture.(Right) Generation photo of me, my mother, and my grandfather at the hotel before the games – our first time together in
— Contributed by Marilyn McPhie What’s the difference between beginner and expert bagpipers? Nothing. Why do bagpipe players always walk when they play? To get away from the sound. My neighbors love my 3am bagpipe practice They even throw bricks through my window so they can hear it better. I received an award from the
Contributed by Arch Aitcheson of Temecula, CA — Scottish grandmother’s (Marion Niven Aitcheson) shortbread recipe. It is a tradition for four generations on this side of the pond! Buttery and yummy! Ingredients: 1lb unsalted butter 5 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed) Directions: Preheat oben to 350 degrees