Why You MUST SEE this Scottish Celebration... The Braw Lad's Gathering 

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Long Live Bruce Fummey!!!

This guy taught me more than in 13 minutes than my teacher taught me in 2 years

Yes I have heard of the Common Riding. And I'm from Argentina, now living in Spain.

Although I am a proud Teri ( Hawick man) I am also the proud son of the 1950 Braw Lass and as such I appreciate the story of The Braw Lads Gathering.

hello and welcome from Calgary Alberta Canada where we have our own horse-based celebration, The Calgary Stampede. not the same idea though the same sort of people started it around the same time, its 111 years old this year. ranchers and farmers came together just outside the town, its now more or less downtown. by the way my grannie was from Inverness Scotland.

From North Carolina, USA. I don't think I had never heard of it. Would like to see almost any video about the people, places and things Scottish.

A proud former Melrose Queen here! Glad to see the Borders being featured anywhere. As well as the installation o' the Melrosian and crowning o' the Queen there's... Hunners o' horses, junior rideout too and they are so well turned out, a bicycle ridout that began during foot and mouth. Fancy dress, fitba', netba', cricket, a weird resurrected dance wi' ribbons! racing up the Eildons, Tour o' ceremonies that abdy can join in wi, plus so much more.

Good morning Bruce. Another great video. I really do love your take on Scottish history in all it's interesting forms. Thanks again, & God bless. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Bruce, that was beautifully told. We returned from a trip to my wife’s home town of Berwick today (19.15pm on July 15th 2023) and a visit to the KOSB barracks. I have had the privilege of riding the Redeswire from Jedburgh, the riding of the bounds of Berwick and the Coldstream ride to Flodden (O flower of Scotland) with my Son, (who is the grandson of a freeman of Berwick). And my wife placed white and red roses on her parent’s grave this morning. So poignant. As alway, thank you for sharing and keep up the good work 🌞

My nearest Common Riding event is Lanimers Day in Lanark, and yes, a video on that celebration would be most welcomed. It's held in June so either you've missed it for this year or I've given you loads of time to plan it for next year. You're probably thinking 'but Lanark isn't in the Borders' and you'd be right. Lanimers Day goes back to the granting of the charter making Lanark a Royal Burgh by King David in the 12th century which gave the merchants the task of annually inspecting their boundary stones.

As an Australian who's great-grandparents came from Hawick, I would be interested in a video about the Hawick event.

I am 77 years old. I remember from my youngest years, my dad would take me to games near us in the USA, and the big deal was when the Black Watch came to Philadelphia. You have taught me so much about the land of my history, thanks Bruce!

Please keep up yr stories. I. Could listen to you day and nite. Coming from usa.

Selkirk resident here. All our Common Ridings are just brilliant

Glad your promoting the part of scotland thats less well known - the best part according to me - but then I am from Duns in Berwickshire

Good to see you big man👊🏼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I've been waiting for this, I seen in you walking about on the day and was hoping to have a chat but one thing and another....all my family are from Gala and I've always had a great time when I visit from London. Great Video

Thank you so much Bruce for sharing this amazing history. John, Southern California

Born and raised around Hawick. Celebrated the common riding every year until I moved away to UNI, always been a blast. Glad to see it on the channel, even if you did pick Gala.

Gala born n bred…🏁 This was absolutely fantastic.. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I love hearing about Scottish history. Keep it up.

Living in Langholm. Common riding right now is looking as wet and as crowded as ever. Would love to see you come and cover Langholms.

1/4 Scottish living in western NC... I love these videos. Only seen Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain

I was clueless until you enlightened me!

I thought I saw you on the Gala day when you were filming. Thanks for coming to my home town. I live in Broxburn now but the annual pilgrimage for the Braw Lads day is essential. My twin brother was Braw Lad back 1990’s. Love your films. 👍

Bravo Bruce, Always entertaining and educational. From an Ulster-Scot, All the best, Ian

How lucky was that, getting that video of them fording the river tweed in Scotland on that one day a year the sun came out!! 🥳🫡

Dumfries - we have something called Guid Nychburris. A Queen of the South is crowned, with a Cornet and Cornet's Lass who lead everyone who can sit on a horse on a Riding of the Marches. Motto: A Lore Burn !! - a battle cry to defend the town.

Thank you for your precious time and your videos. I’m sorry to say I’ve never been to Scotland. 🇺🇸

I live in Dumfries (yes, we're coming on the 8th!) and our Guid Nychburris festival takes place on the 3rd Saturday in June every year. It commemorates the granting of the Royal Burgh Charter by King Robert 3rd in 1186. The festival was started in 1932 by GW Shirley, town librarian, who also wrote the song Queen of the South which is sung every year at the midsteeple on Guid Nychburris Saturday. The Cornet, Cornet's Lass, Lynors and other riders set out at 8am to ride the marches, stobbing and nogging the ancient boundaries of the burgh with posts and flags, laying a wreath at the war memorial and raising a flag at the site of Dumfries Castle in Casteldykes Park, which Robert the Bruce took back from the English. The ride finishes at the Midsteeple in the town centre at noon, where the ceremony of the granting of the charter is reenacted with great pomp and circumstance and the new Queen of the South crowned. The song, celebrating not the 16 year old schoolgirl on the throne but the history and beauty of the town itself, is sung by a senior pupil from the same school as the queen. Except in 2022 when, as a special 90th anniversary celebration, a choir was formed of former singers who performed the song in 2 part harmony. My sister and I were both privileged to sing when we were in high school, and both took part again in 2022. My sister in law, Natalie, was queen when she was 16 and is still very involved with the organising committee now. After the crowning ceremony the provost, sheriff, baileys and other participants are fed and watered at the municipal chambers while the cornet, his lass and their party have lunch at a local hotel. In the afternoon there are horse races at Park Farm, a children's fancy dress parade and the evening's parade floats are judged. At 5pm the parade sets of from Newall Terrace with the queen and her attendants on one float, the town band marching behind, and dozens of other floats following on decorated in all sorts of themes. I am usually to be found on the Dumfries Musical Theatre Company float, which this year had a Blues Brothers theme. The partying goes on into the wee sma' hours. It is a fabulous event and it would be lovely if you could cover it on the channel next year. Looking forward to seeing you live on the 8th in our own Theatre Royal (where I played Florence Vassy in DMTC's production of Chess for 8 nights in May this year).

The Penicuik one is called “The Hunter and Lass” and is now part of their gala. I remember the latter, as a child, being to do with paper mills and mines. The H&L I think was revived several times, my mother (aged 83) remembers it when she was growing up.

As an Englishman and a Yorkshireman, born a couple of Counties south of the Scotish boarder, the terms 'codger', 'gadgie' oftimes preceded by 'auld' and the term 'braw' were all words I grew up with, one has to wonder exactly how far into England the Scotish culture extended? I do enjoy your enlightening videos very much, I have for some years now been trying to learn more about the orogins of the tune to Óró sé do bheatha abhaile, which I understand to be originaly a Jacobean marching tune and did at some point have lyrics to it but am having difficulty progressing. it is a tune which I feel all Geals should know because of it's history, and all Englishmen are familliar with because of a Drunken Sailor! P.S. I have recently been gifted a set of bagpipes in need of repair, obviously and insult and no mistaking. I shall however restore them and vocifouracly play them for my enjoyment and much to the lament of both my English bretheren and Galic neighbours alike!

Guid Nychburris - Great memories from childhood. Dumfries Doonhamers

Wow Bruce, you’re near to 200K. Lee, now from Millburn, NJ, founded by Scots.❤

madainn Brus! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I live in Oklahoma, but I did live in Edinburgh and Tabrax when I was young and then in England when I was a teenager and I'd never heard of Border celebrations. So much rich history for the townspeople to honor and recognize .....love it love it love it.

Accidently came across one in Jedburgh on the last day of my break. Very similar. I'm a Lanarkshire laddie

Brilliant video We on the Cumbrian side of the border hear much from over the border from our Scots friends of the Common ridings. Border TV still will present coverage as a news item. My pal Simon. Is a Cockney but he has come to view Langholm ‘the Muckle Toon” as home. He loves the community and town, he is involved with the Barley banner. It’s a day like Christmas when the community looks to itself and welcomes others. There’s a good deal of drinking and much fun. Wow though……600 dead from Gala!!!! Crazy! As a person from the Borders and border TV area. I recall the late great Eric Wallace covering these wonderful events.

Very interesting, never heard of this, thanks!

Awesome job Bruce. Sounds like a very cool festival that goes on in the border towns.

Great video, Bruce! I had no idea the Borders held onto their traditions like this. A simply beautiful historic commemoration. The main rider celebration on our little island here in New Jersey is the summertime tourist invasion from Philadelphia. We do have an Irish Weekend which is major fun. North Woldwood is known to us locals as the Irish Riviera. 😁

Good evening Bruce, Queensland Australia. Never heard of this. But it sounds interesting

We went to Hawick this year doing family research and found ourselves in Hawick for the festival. It was AMAZING! And it had so much much more significance for me because I realised that my lineage of Great Grandparents would have attended these celebrations as well! For me it was extremely moving and difficult to relay the spirit of the community and it’s celebration 🎉 My family emigrated to Australia in the 1850’s…

A very interesting insight into a joyous civic event.

Boarder, rivers, clan bell, border bells, Aye we in the USA 🇺🇸 KNOW About our Clan

Yep i knew about the common riding in the borders but have yet to see one 😱

From Galashiels I now live 3 miles in Melrose

I'm from Hastings, East Sussex (yeah yeah, I'm an Englishman). There's a particular historical event we commemorate every year, you might have heard of it.......

As a teenager in the 1970's our pipeband used to play at the Mussleburgh riding of the marches. As a Peeblean I would very much like you to cover the Peeebles Beltane Festival or the St Ronan's border game (the oldest organised sports meeting in Scotland).

I was there in Gala watching the common riding. It was a great day out. My family are from the borders and were involved. Thank you for covering this

Anything about the borders always welcome Bruce

Nope! Never heard of it Bruce 🤔... good one!

First class!

I am from Grenoble in France but I am Scottish from my mum

OMG! Love the horses!! And what a finale remembrance. Love it all.

Been to few of Rievers festivals in Hawick with Hawick Steel Bonnets , end of March each year 😊

I have heard of them but knew nothing except the title. Thank you for filling in some blanks. 👍

Thank you. This is a great start to my day here in Minnesota as I kilt up, and head up to our Minnesota Scottish Fair to represent Clan Kennedy with my brothers and sisters. Maybe someday you will touch on our Clan in one of your videos.

I grew up in Glasgow, KY USA. Believe it or not, they had a "highland games" for 33 years! It's a very small town in semi-rural USA, so who knows what kind of authenticity there was, but it's pretty cool. 😎 (Last time they did it was 2019 and I don't know if it will take place again) This year they are having a "Glasgow Gaelic Gathering" in its place!

Brilliant as always , very interesting as well

I had not heard of any of these celebrations. Thank you for sharing. 🙏💗

Orcadian here; we have something super similar called the Riding Of The Marches, with folk on horseback trotting around the old town boundary, then popping into the sea. One fun bonus aspect of the riding is seeing tourists dodging horse poo on the streets for the next few days afterward!

Great explanation and commentary!

Never exploded with rage but an Eyebrow definitely got raised hahaha

Born and bred in Norfolk, spent 20 years in Hertfordshire and now living in S Yorkshire. I learned about the Common Ridings when I took the motorhome to Scotland about 10 years ago. I bought a CD of music from the Selkirk Riding. Brilliant.

IV done allot of digging my grandmother's family "Fergusson" were from perthshire❤

We are from Ohio and are going to the Scottish Borders in two weeks with our sons. We are so excited! My husband’s family is descended from Clan Armstrong, and we want to learn more about this beautiful area. We love your videos and have watched them in anticipation of our family trip!

Love to see border culture on this channel, and glad you are doing a show in gala. One thing the video doesn't capture is the smell of all the horses that lingers in the street for a few days afterwards. I'd love more videos in the coming years about other towns but not sure which i'd pick.

lol I wont complain on location as your story is well done as usual. However my father was a top rider in the Peebles Beltane festival back in the 60s so have some common connection here....Cheers Bruce, well done!

In the capital of Canada, Ottawa, the bagpipes are heard every day on the parliament hills during the summer for tourism but it is really nice and reminiscent of the history.

So good to see my wee town being represented here, it truly is a fantastic day out for the family, they also close down Bank street and have live music in the gardens and games for kids after the lowering of the standard. Fantastic video keep up the good work.

Long live the Little’s & the riding families West March!

Incidentally, there's an important meeting about the legal constitution of Scotland coming up in Edinburgh 22nd July. Press conference at Greyfriars Charteris Centre EH8 9RR.12.30pm. Followed by a delivery to Holyrood at 3.00pm . Could be making history as it marks to the day the 317 year anniversary of the treaty of Union.

Good morning Bruce 5:13 New York City 🇺🇸 Learned very little from our School text books. Have seen lots of places in films, But I get to see and learn with your amazing channel. 🌎🕊 tfs

AWESOME VIDEO! YOU NEVER FAIL!

From Stirling. Never heard of this one, though I was aware of the border reavers.

My mother was from linlithgow as a child I was always dragged there for the galaday. But a few times as a child I was also there for the marches. Linlithgow marches were to mark the boundary of the royal burgh of the town. All I remember was all my uncles alongside my father heading to a pub. Even when my eldest was at gala as a student. I was never at the riding. It's not something I have never thought about doing. Thanks again Bruce and keep bringing stories to our attention. I have a list myself. One from your home town, a wee tower near a certain football team.

From Kirkcudbright. It's great to see more videos, history etc about it. D&G often gets completely forgotten about. Which is grand in the sence it stays quiet but such a shame in the same 2 sence. (Ken this video aint about d&g etc just chatting in general)

The police Scotland officers were quick enough to remove the Just stop oil protesters from this event but the police are not keen on removing the same protestors from Edinburgh streets, bizarre times.

Great Bruce, and nice to meet you on the day. Got my tickets and see you in September. Well done.

I have never seen anything like this. awesome. I'm from Arizona USA. my family immigrated from the lowlands. Family name Shaw

I've never heard of Common Ridings before this video.

My parents were vague which part of Scotland because they didn't know as well, but I'm sure they knew.

A'reyt Bruce. As a kid I spent many happy holidays in the border area, but this was a very interesting insight into the traditions of the area that I had not picked up on back then. Some of the more modern history is not unlike the northern English counties who use the rose symbols. See Lancastrian Wallace and Gromit "Yorkshire Border. Keep Out." sign. Common Riding sounds like a place in Wakefield and I was reminded of Keighley Gala from my family home town. Imagine this as Gala Gala? I grew up in Bradford, but many of my friends and I are now scattered elsewhere in Yorkshire, so the feeling of belonging is a difficult question that you posed.

Bruce, I have been to the Common Riding in Gala in 1975 , A friend of mine Alan Jenkins invited me down to watch the celebration , And he still lives there i had a fantastic time met a lot of nice people . some of the riders rode up the Royal MIle During the Edinburgh Festival .

Get yourself to the Guid Nychburris in Dumfries on the last Thursday of June every year.....similar to the Gala one kinda

I’m from Aberdeenshire. The common riding is totally unheard of. I would say everything north of Stirling has not seen or experienced this. Thanks for the video.

Superb work fella

Hello Bruce, I'm a Northumberland man, ancestor of some of the Reiver's I'm told, difficult time's. Great content.

New Zealand here, my Dad was from Peebles, so we grew up hearing about rhe Beltane & the Ridings

Grounds keeper look alike… erm, never crossed my mind!! 🤔🥳😂

What a great story, my family are all up north so this is kinda new to me and I love it, thanks Bruce❣️❣️

I was born and raised in Texas started Genealogy when I was 13 now I’m 69 boy did that pass fast. My grandfather was a McClellan and doing my DNA 🧬 I have a lot of Scottish blood and love it. We’ve traced our ancestors back to Robert McClelland/McClellan. I love my Scottish connection and can’t wait for a trip to the beautiful country. ❤ Love your video but where’s your kilt?

I love learning this! The sentiment seems so similar to American parades. Seeing the fabric of the local community in person really hits home for most people at some point.

I'm from Peebles and my family has always been deeply involved in Peebles Beltane Festival and Common Riding. Really brilliant to see you cover Common Ridings Festivals, really brilliant part of Scottish history and culture.

Hi another name for gala folk is they are called Pale Merks (from the claim that Gala was the last major town in Scotland to have plumbing/running water) more history for you Heard a story that the ex scotland footballer John Collins (who's from Gala) Was on duty for his country and while getting on the bus some team member Had written a place note on the bus seat saying pale merk Well when John Collins seen that on the seat he wasnt very pleased about it so I've been told Dunno if it's 100% true though maybe you could find out in Sept

Bruce, Again you blow me away. That was Holy Kittens so cool! No I had no idea. Man if you are just learning about this, than you still have a lot of history to cover. Yes I would like more please. I also would love to see more islands of scotland, maybe more ferry rides too. Thank you and your team for such a great vid!!!

I live in Gala, have done the rideout and my boy plays trombone in that band! X

I lived in Innerleithen (very close to here) as a kid and Games Week was my most favorite time of year!!