The Great Tapestry of Scotland

is an extraordinary piece of cooperative artwork showing the hi

Struileag: An imaginary boat passed around at a ceilidh or other gathering. When you have sung or told a story, you'd say "cuiream struileag seachad orm gu..." "I pass on the struileag to..." for the next person to do a turn. - See more at: http://www.struileag.com/en#sthash.xSVSzdYN.dpuf

story of Scotland to date in one hundred and sixty embroidered panels. There were more than a thousand people involved in the making of it. It was the idea of the author Alexander McCall-Smith, realised by artist Andrew Crummy and, as a book, narrated by Alistair Moffat.
The Commonwealth Games will be held in Edinburgh this year. The Ryder Cup will be held at Gleneagles - if you happen to be interested in golf. It is also the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn - an important event in Scottish history.

But there is something more important than that, something that Alexander McCall-Smith recognised. The year 2014 is the Year of Homecoming in Scotland. Scots, and those of Scots descent, all over the world are being encouraged to return or go to Scotland. They are being encouraged to acknowledge their roots.

Struileag: An imaginary boat passed around at a ceilidh or other gathering. When you have sung or told a story, you'd say "cuiream struileag seachad orm gu..." "I pass on the struileag to..." for the next person to do a turn. - See more at: http://www.struileag.com/en#sthash.xSVSzdYN.dpuf

There is also "Struileag" - a modern version of the imaginary boat passed around at a ceilidh or other gathering. When you had sung your song or told your story you would say, " Cuiream struileag seachad orm gu..." and name the next person to sing or story tell. Imagine, if you can, the stories of great battles, great love, great storms at sea or snowdrifts in the highlands shared around a room lit by nothing more than firelight. 

The "Seanachaidh" - the chief story teller for the clan - was the person who could tell the history of the clan. The aim of Struileag is to make a seanachaidh of as many Scots and those of Scots descent as possible.

My clan is having its usual Gathering. They will indulge in some serious discussion about their own history as well as the essential socialising.  I would love to be there but it won't be happening. One of these days I hope to see the place my not so distant ancestors came from. My father has stayed there. My brother and one sister have visited it briefly. The cousin responsible for our branch of the family history has been more than once. He says the weather is usually awful. It is probably why my ancestors left but members of the clan keep going back. They keep following the traditional maritime, health, educational and engineering related occupations. Scotland has much to be proud of in those fields - and elsewhere. 

If you are a Scot or of Scots descent then I would recommend "The Great Tapestry of Scotland". It is a glorious visual panorama of the history of a great country. Scotland is much more than kilts, bagpipes and heather.