Luckily for our class, this time of year for Scotland is perfect for tourists. Not only is the Fringe one of their biggest attractions but within the lineup for shows and performances the most well known is the Military Tattoo. It is a very special time of year for Scotland and its history. The Tattoo merges together many of the different countries and their cultures, each having played a part in the growth of Scotland.
The Tattoo is held every night through the month of August, and two performances are held on Saturdays. The military bands spend months of preparation into their routines of dance and instrumental marches.
I was most surprised to see a band from South Africa in their program. They had the most unique routine of them all. Their band didn’t consist of your typical snare and bass drums, the drums looked as if they were the lambskin drums that stood as tall as four feet. The men were shirtless and so were the women. At first I found it so strange that such a provocative aspect would be apart of such an important event. Then I was reminded that to those South Africans it is normal in their society to be nude regardless of their setting.
The overall performance was incredible. Leaving the arena you felt a connection with Scotland and it’s history. I even felt choked up towards the end. Just to see the amount of pride that people have for their country. Even surrounding countries came to show their support and love. It was so much more powerful than a typical "hoorah" to some bright fireworks on the forth of July. One of the last songs played was the Scotland Anthem. It is routine for everyone in the audience to cross their arms and hold their neighbor’s hand. When the song starts, we started swaying with the beat.
The Tattoo wasn’t just about entertainment. It was about reminding the people of Scotland where they came from and how they got there. It is a symbol of pride and unity.
Tara
The Tattoo is held every night through the month of August, and two performances are held on Saturdays. The military bands spend months of preparation into their routines of dance and instrumental marches.
I was most surprised to see a band from South Africa in their program. They had the most unique routine of them all. Their band didn’t consist of your typical snare and bass drums, the drums looked as if they were the lambskin drums that stood as tall as four feet. The men were shirtless and so were the women. At first I found it so strange that such a provocative aspect would be apart of such an important event. Then I was reminded that to those South Africans it is normal in their society to be nude regardless of their setting.
The overall performance was incredible. Leaving the arena you felt a connection with Scotland and it’s history. I even felt choked up towards the end. Just to see the amount of pride that people have for their country. Even surrounding countries came to show their support and love. It was so much more powerful than a typical "hoorah" to some bright fireworks on the forth of July. One of the last songs played was the Scotland Anthem. It is routine for everyone in the audience to cross their arms and hold their neighbor’s hand. When the song starts, we started swaying with the beat.
The Tattoo wasn’t just about entertainment. It was about reminding the people of Scotland where they came from and how they got there. It is a symbol of pride and unity.
Tara