About The Clan
Taken from the 40th annual commemorative program.

Since the earliest times the history of the Highlands has revolved around what has been loosely termed “the clan system”. The word “clan” is in itself an Anglicization of the Gaelic word “clann”, meaning children.

It may be said that the clan was a family unit and, as such, was not unique to the Highlanders any more than it was to the Levites, Ishmaelites, Apache, Sioux, Kurds, Ghurkas or any of a dozen different cultures.

What is different is that the clan culture has fervently retained its national music, its mode of dress, its peculiar form of athletics, its style of Highland dancing and, to an extent, its ancient language. That all of this could have survived for hundreds of years, is, in itself, no small achievement — of sterling worth.

With the passage of time, economic, political and religious vagaries have all left some change in their wake. When once the clan rallied to the Chief at the summons of the Fiery Cross, the hereditary Chief today travels to the four corners of the earth to visit his scattered kinsfolk.

When once our proud music was banned, there are now more pipes playing than in all of combined previous time — not only in Scotland but in Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Nepal, India, Pakistan, China, South Africa, Canada, the United States, yes, even in England!

We of the Colonial Highland Gathering are privileged to be a part of this world-wide bond of brotherhood. We are of all ages and pursuits and share the pleasure and security of each other’s company as well as the pageantry and tradition of an annual Gathering or assembly of families. We are in fact, individually and collectively, conscious of being part of one family — our family — the Clan.

Reprinted from Colonial Highland Gathering Program June 1, 1974