The final fling, going out on a high note
Homecoming 2009 may be drawing to an end but the party and legacy goes on.
2009 has been quite a year here in Scotland. Some 400 events across the country have been staged so far and visitors from all over the world, all with the same desire to ‘come home’ to Scotland, have been welcomed. In the process we’ve given our national bard a 250th anniversary party that will go down in history, but it’s far from over yet. The Homecoming Finale celebrations promise to be just as legendary.
Homecoming Year… the Highlights
The events started with a bang in January with the Homecoming Burns Supper at the birthplace of Robert Burns, Alloway, Ayrshire. Thousands of people got involved staging Burns Suppers in 80 different countries. It was the start of a year to remember.
2009 was a fantastic year for Scottish music with hundreds of events throughout the country including: Glasgow’s Celtic Connections with musical tributes to the Bard; Bringing it all Back Home, a celebration of the music that crossed the Atlantic with the Scottish emigrants; The Homecoming Trad Music Sessions, over 300 sessions open to all across the country not to mention Piping Live!, the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
May was Whisky Month. Over 400 events in Scotland’s five whisky producing regions were staged, that included: The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival; Westering home to Islay; and even a rare Homecoming Whisky Auction of rare malts.
Sporting events were world class too. A special Homecoming Day was held at The Open Championships which returned to the ‘home of golf’ in Turnberry, Ayrshire, Etape Caledonia was 81 miles of closed road cycling through spectacular Scottish countryside, Scotland’s football team participated in the Homecoming Scottish Cup and Rugby League’s Magic Weekend took place at Murrayfield. There were also Traditional Highland Games the length of the country.
Scottish arts and culture, ancestry, innovation and wildlife were all represented in a myriad of other events too, ranging from The John Muir Odyssey to the popular Famous Scots exhibition and The Gathering in Edinburgh – the biggest Clan Gathering in 200 years which was attended by clans from all corners of the world.
And the party continued… around the world
Parties and celebrations aside, the message behind Homecoming 2009 was a call to Scots, those of Scottish descent or simply anyone interested in knowing more about the land, to ‘come home’ to Scotland. This could be the first visit or it could be a homecoming. Either way, it’s the people who answered the call who can be a true measure of its success.
And many thousands of people did answer the call. Many joined in staging ceilidhs in Canada, highland games in Helensburgh, Australia and Burns Suppers in Boston. Others made the journey to Scotland. Patrick Dunbar from Mission Hills, California made a dream, generations old, come true. Patrick’s grandfather emigrated from Scotland to the USA, his father expressed a desire to come to Scotland though never did. Patrick explained that, “I made it my passion and dream to see where my roots began and at the age of 55, came true. I now have an even greater desire to return and see more of this glorious country called Scotland”.Lynette McBirnie Cameron from Queensland, Australia expressed great excitement in “coming home to the land of our ancestors and where we feel we belong”. And Ruth Hammons and her sister from the USA came to Scotland for Homecoming to trace their family roots, “I cannot tell you how special it was to walk in the footsteps of our ancestors”. Ruth was overwhelmed by the “warm welcomes everywhere that we went. An experience that I won’t ever forget”.
Homecoming Finale
Glorious memories aside, the Homecoming party’s not over yet. Preparations for The Homecoming Finale weekend of November 26th - 30th to celebrate St. Andrew’s Day are well underway and they promise to ensure we’ll be going out with a bang. There are over 40 events being staged during the finale weekend throughout the country. Historic Scotland and many other key visitor attractions are offering a free weekend of visits. Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Skara Brae, St Andrew’s Cathedral and Edinburgh Zoo to name but a few.
Edinburgh will host the big St. Andrew’s ‘Do’ – a mix of contemporary and traditional Scottish music and family entertainment across the city. There’s plenty more opportunities to see premier music events. BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall will feature music from the award-winning History of Scotland BBC Scotland TV series. From Glasgow, UNESCO City of Music, Shin Dig Live, The Final Fling is a weekend of free music and dance. Homecoming Live, The Final Fling will bring unique and diverse Scottish musicians together in a series of gigs in the SECC, Clyde Auditorium and the legendary King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut.
There’s plenty more too, with events such as: Homecoming Borders Banquet – A 10 day celebration of the world-class food produced in the Borders – pubs, restaurants, hotels and cafés are all participating; Dundee’s Winter Light Night; St Andrews’ son et lumiere show; the Scotland vs. Argentina match will mark the end of the Scottish Rugby, Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Test Series and the final leg of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the RACMSA Rally of Scotland, can be seen in Stirling and Perthshire.
The year may almost be over but the message of Homecoming 2009, the memories created, pasts discovered and homecomings realized will continue for another 250 years. Now what a party that’ll be!
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