Back in the 1990’s a group was formed to run a Highland Games at St Andrews College. Such was the success that at the end there was a surplus of finance which was invested. About 8 years ago those groups who had been involved had a meeting and decided to form a committee to try and run some type of event for Scottish minded people in Canterbury.
In the meantime, the Canterbury Burns Club had decided that some sort of memorial to the Scottish settlers who had arrived in Canterbury in the mid-nineteenth century was needed. After much work it was decided to place a cairn in Riccarton Bush, the site of the Deans brothers first cottage. Eventually a ceremony promulgated by the Canterbury Burns Club was held on Sunday 25th January 2009 (250th anniversary of the birth of Robbie Burns – the Immortal Bard who also hailed from the same area in Ayrshire, Scotland). The day apart from the unveiling of the cairn included parade of Scottish Clans in the region, pipe-bands, Scottish country dancing, choir and the Address to the Haggis.
The event was so well attended that it was decided that it should be made an annual event taking place in February. As the Canterbury Burns Club had indicated the event would be too much for them, a committee was formed from members of the Scottish Society of NZ, Canterbury Caledonian Society, Canterbury Burns Club, Scottish Country Dancing, Highland Dancing, Chch Pipe Band Centre and the Canterbury Scottish Heritage Council representing Clan Societies.
So began the Canterbury Scottish Cultural Festival which in 2013 became a sub-group of the Scottish Society of NZ.
Today the day comprises of Highland Dancing competition, Pipe-Band competition, Scottish Country Dancing, Clan Alley, whisky tasting, Address to the Haggis and of course a Chief of the Day.
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In the meantime, the Canterbury Burns Club had decided that some sort of memorial to the Scottish settlers who had arrived in Canterbury in the mid-nineteenth century was needed. After much work it was decided to place a cairn in Riccarton Bush, the site of the Deans brothers first cottage. Eventually a ceremony promulgated by the Canterbury Burns Club was held on Sunday 25th January 2009 (250th anniversary of the birth of Robbie Burns – the Immortal Bard who also hailed from the same area in Ayrshire, Scotland). The day apart from the unveiling of the cairn included parade of Scottish Clans in the region, pipe-bands, Scottish country dancing, choir and the Address to the Haggis.
The event was so well attended that it was decided that it should be made an annual event taking place in February. As the Canterbury Burns Club had indicated the event would be too much for them, a committee was formed from members of the Scottish Society of NZ, Canterbury Caledonian Society, Canterbury Burns Club, Scottish Country Dancing, Highland Dancing, Chch Pipe Band Centre and the Canterbury Scottish Heritage Council representing Clan Societies.
So began the Canterbury Scottish Cultural Festival which in 2013 became a sub-group of the Scottish Society of NZ.
Today the day comprises of Highland Dancing competition, Pipe-Band competition, Scottish Country Dancing, Clan Alley, whisky tasting, Address to the Haggis and of course a Chief of the Day.
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