Today we attended the 26th Annual Scottish Games up at Altamont Fairground. Astonishing numbers of Americans in kilts playing bagpipes (and playing them well, at that). It was most surprising. There was caber tossing and sword dancing, highland cattle and quite a few folk bands such as you might find at an Andy Stewart Hogmanay.
Any number of stalls were laid out selling celtic-themed goodies, tartans and clan souvenirs. One even had a range of British delicacies on sale including Irnbru, tinned macaroni cheese and Marmite (for a moment there I genuinely mistook it for a tombolla).
It didn't feel an entirely authentic Scottish occasion, for the forested hills of Thatcher State Park that formed the backdrop don't have the austere beauty of Scottish mountains, and the weather wasn't remotely dricht. But the place was brimming with gaelic ancestral pride.
Having happened to start life in East Kilbride, I may have been the closest thing there to a first-generation Scot. So with my new easygoing American confidence I asked the guy at the entrance if there was a discount for people born in Scotland. 'Nope' he said, dourly.
Maybe he models himself on Gordon Brown?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI expect that you realised that is wasn't a tombola when you checked the "sell by" labels - not 3 years out of date. Are you craving for any of it yet?
ReplyDeleteSpot the imposter bagpiper!
ReplyDelete