Stone Mountain Highland Games

St. Andrew's Day is the feast day of Saint Andrew. Each year, it is celebrated on the 30th of November. Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Cyprus, Scotland, Greece, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria. He is the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, San Andres Island, Colombia and Saint Andrew, Barbados. St. Andrew's Day (Scots: Saunt Andra's Day, Scottish Gaelic: La Naomh Anndrais) is Scotland's official national day. ... The celebration of St Andrew as a national festival is thought to originate from the reign of Malcolm III (10341093). It was thought that ritual slaughter of animals associated with Samhain was moved to this date, so as to assure enough animals were kept alive for winter. But it is only in more recent times that the 30 November has been given national holiday status. In 2006, the Scottish Parliament passed the St. Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007, which designated the Day as an official bank holiday. The University of St Andrews traditionally gives the day for all the students as a free holiday, but this is not a binding rule. The Saltire: St Andrew's Day is an official flag day in Scotland. The Scottish Government's flag-flying regulations state that the Flag of Scotland (the Saltire or Saint Andrew's Cross) shall fly on all its buildings with a flagpole. Prior to 2002, the Scottish Government followed the UK Government's flag days and would only fly the Union Flag on St Andrew's Day. The regulations were updated to state that the Union Flag would be removed and replaced by the Saltire on buildings with only one flagpole. The flying of the Union Flag from Edinburgh Castle on all days, including St Andrew's Day causes anger among some Scottish National Party politicians who have argued that the Saltire should fly on 30 November instead. However, the Union Flag is flown by the British Army at the Castle as it still is an official British Army flag flying station. Celebrations: In Scotland, and many countries with Scottish connections, St Andrew's Day is marked with a celebration of Scottish culture with traditional Scottish food, music and dance. Schools across Scotland hold special St Andrew's Day events and activities including art shows, Scottish country dancing, lunchtime Ceilidhs, dance festivals, storytelling, reciting and writing poems, writing tall tales, cooking traditional Scottish meals, and bagpipe-playing. In Scotland the day is also seen as the start of a season of Scottish winter festivals encompassing St Andrew's Day, Hogmanay and Burns Night.[8] In Edinburgh, there is a week of celebrations, concentrating on musical entertainment and traditional ceilidh dancing. A ceilidh is a social event with couples dancing in circles or sets (groups of eight people). In Glasgow city centre, a large shindig, or party, with traditional music and a ceilidh are held. In Dumfries, songs are performed in the Burn's night tradition.

Sad day indeed as we loose another member of our family

Have you rewatched your favorite parts?

Sad news from the Highland Dance community with the passing of long time dance teacher Pat Johnston

The Highland Dance photos posted yesterday have been well received. Here is a collection of Country Dance photos from the past few years. The Atlanta branch of the RSCDS host the Country Dance platform at our games. Make sure to stop by next year and learn a few new dances.

Did you miss it? No worries. Here is a link to our Virtual Highland Games playlist. If you missed it, watch. ... If you watched it, watch it again. Tell your friends and family. https://www.youtube.com/playlist

Myron posted some amazing photos from around the games the other day. His area of focus is on the athletic and parade fields though so there was no dance included in that series. So Here are some Highland Dance photos from throughout the years to enjoy. A similar post for Country Dance will go up later this week.

The Stone Mountain Highland Games family are so grateful for our wonderful guests, sponsors, and patrons. Thank you all so much for helping make what could have been a dreary October a little brighter through your participation in our virtual event. We hope you enjoyed what was assembled. We pray you stay safe and healthy. We look forward to seeing you all next year... IN PERSON.

Thank you Colin

Closing walkthrough of the 2020 virtual Highland Games. Thank you for joining us.

Our Parade of Tartans starts at Noon. Make sure to log in to YouTube and participate in the chat.

Thank you everyone for participating in our online event. We appreciate the kind comments. We feel the love. Here a an amazing retrospective put together by one of our long-time photographers, Myron McGhee. Thank you Myron for sharing. ... https://myron.smugmug.com/HighlandGam/Highland-Games-Best-/

Out of respect for our guests we avoid posting pictures of children at the Games. We have however been given permission to share these so we can highlight our amazong Kilted Santa. We can’t wait to have him and your children back on the field with us at the 2021 Hoghland Games.

The Massed pipes & Drums are a core part of the Games. Bands from across North America come to grace our field with their talents. https://youtu.be/Rmjmr1aLvFA

Atlanta GA-based performance group Keltic Kudzu performs traditional and contemporary Celtic music with a "Southern accent" along with contemporary covers with a "Celtic accent". Lori, Kelly, Tom, and Tim play interpretations of music ranging from traditional tunes to contemporary covers. Enjoy strong vocal harmonies and melodies & a variety of instruments including guitar, fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki, whistles and bass pedals. https://youtu.be/qUbK2hievNo