Highland Games

An ancient spectacle of strength, grace, and bagpipes.

Alex Q. Arbuckle

1900-1962

A tosser flips the caber at the Highland Games in Scotland. Credit: Schlochauer/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Yes, that's a log in the air.Scotland's Highland Games first became regular events in the Victorian period. The main event of the games is, to this day, the daunting feat of strength known as the caber toss. A tosser hefts a long wooden log called a caber, which can be up to 20 feet long and weigh 175 pounds. Cupping one tapered end in his hands and balancing the caber upright against his shoulder, the tosser must run forward and heave it with all his strength to make it flip over and land upright on its opposite end.

Traditional Scottish sword dancing at the Highland Games in Oban, Scotland. Credit: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

The games also include Scottish variants on familiar Olympic events like shot put and hammer throw. In fact, it is claimed that the Highland Games, as displayed at the Paris Exhibition of 1889, were one of Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s inspirations for the modern revival of the Olympic Games.In addition to displays of strength and athleticism, the games also feature celebrations of Scottish and Celtic culture, including massive bagpipes performances and “sword dances,” where a dancer leaps and twirls over a pair of crossed swords.With the global diaspora of Scots and Celts, Highland Games have spread widely, and are today held around the world, from Europe and North America to New Zealand and Brazil.

The Black Watch 3rd Battalion presents a traditional Scottish dance during the Highland Games in Calcutta, India. Credit: Keystone-France/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

A contestant in the caber toss competition at the Strathallan Highland Games in Stirlingshire helps to place the caber in position for the next athlete. Credit: Chris Ware/Keystone Features/Getty Images

George Clark tosses the caber at the Braemer Highland Games. Credit: Imagno/Getty Images

A caber tosser practices for the first Highland Games of the South. Credit: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images

A contestant tosses the caber on the first day of the Braemar Games. Credit: Central Press/Getty Images

The Massed Pipe band marches through the arena at Princess Royal Park in Braemar, Scotland, during the opening of the Braemar Games. Credit: Cowper/Central Press/Getty Images

A member of the Royal Signals leaps through fire on a motorcycle during a display at the Strathallan Highland Games at Bridge of Allan in Stirlingshire. Credit: Chris Ware/Keystone Features/Getty Images

Louis Stewart, a contestant in the hammer throwing competition at the Strathallan Highland Games in Stirlingshire. Credit: Chris Ware/Keystone Features/Getty Images

Jack Hunter heaves a 22-pound stone at the annual Highland Games at Braemar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Credit: Monty Fresco/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

Sword dancing at the Aboyne Highland Games in Aberdeenshire. Credit: Firmin/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

George Clark comes third in the stone put at the Aboyne Highland Games. Credit: Cowper/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A man swings a shot at the Highland Games in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Credit: Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Jay Scott of Loch Lomond places first in the 16-pound open stone event at the Lochearnhead and Balquhidder Highland Games with a throw of 42 feet, 6 inches. Credit: Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Men wrestle at the Highland Games in Scotland. Credit: IMAGNO/Austrian Archives/Getty Images

Spectators at the Highland Gathering and Games at Inverness. Credit: W. G. Phillips/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

Allister Stuart throws the heavy hammer at the 64th Aboyne Highland Games. Credit: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1st Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders dance at Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth in Hampshire for the 1936 Highland Games. Credit: Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Getty Images

A hammer throw contestant at the Highland Games in London. Credit: Hudson/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

C. Cairns and J. Armstrong in action during the Cumberland Wrestling event at the Braemar Gathering Highland Games in Aberdeenshire. Credit: M. Fresco/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

Spectators sit at the Highland gathering at Braemar near Balmoral in Aberdeenshire. Credit: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

Jay Scott of Loch Lomond competes in the weight throw event at the Blackford Highland Games, Blackford, Perthshire, Scotland. Credit: Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Princess Margaret watches the tug-o-war final at the Highland Games at Colchester Garrison Stadium, Scotland. Credit: Keystone-France/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

A hammer toss competitor in the 62nd Annual Gathering for the Aboyne Highland Games. Credit: Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Getty Images

A member of the 1st Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth in Hampshire for the 1936 Highland Games. Credit: Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Getty Images

A caber tosser attempts to flip the caber at the hIghland Games in Scotland. Credit: A. Hudson/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

William Hall and Robin Richardson take part in the wrestling competition during the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering, Aberdeenshire. Credit: Fox Photos/Getty Images

A young boy practices the bagpipes before the final competition in Harpenden, Scotland. Credit: Keystone-France/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images