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Families and friends from opposite sides of the world will re-unite when people everywhere return to their Scottish roots for this great event. The party to end all parties begins on Rabbie Burns' birthday, 25th January, and will end on 30th November, St Andrew's day, our patron saint. Consider yourself invited if you have even the remotest interest in Scotland, or if your great, great, great granny hailed from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inveraray, or the Isle of Skye.
Homecoming Scotland - What's it all about?
Well, the year 2009 sees the 250th anniversary of the birth of our national poet and songwriter Robert Burns, who is probably best remembered for his famous song, 'Auld Lang Syne', which is sung at New Year parties all over the world. So, we're celebrating, and we Scots know how to do that.We are bracing ourselves to be swamped with people of Scottish Ancestry, ex-patriots, and of course residents, for Homecoming Scotland, a magnificent calendar of events to celebrate not only Burns, but everything Scottish. That would include our whisky, our golf, our culture, our history, and the very significant contribution this small country has made in the world of invention, like the Telephone and the Television.
This is a Government initiative managed by Event Scotland and Visit Scotland, and funding has come from the Scottish Government to assist event organisers with the programme which comes under four category headings. These are : Themed Events, Signature Events, Partner Events and Rolling Activity, which is relevant year round, countrywide events.
What's On :
The Rolling activities will include the many events that already take place in many regions of the country, from the Highlands to Dumfries & Galloway. The capital, Edinburgh hosts the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the three week long Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. You can check out the usual rolling events month by month on the Scotland Events page, and as the new additional events calendar unfolds I will post the details here.
Clan Gathering :
One of the major events will be The Gathering, from 25th - 26th July, in Edinburgh. This event is expected to attract around 7,500 clan members from around the world. A Clan Pageant, and a parade on the Royal Mile are to be featured, along with a Highland Games to be held in Holyrood Park.
Event Organisers :
Event organisers are invited to apply for funding to assist with the creation of new events or to enhance existing events. For information and application forms visit the Homecoming Scotland Official Website.
Visitors :
The red carpet is rolled out to anyone with Scottish connections looking forward to a return home, or anyone else in the world with a yearning for the 'Scotland experience'. Preparations should be made soon, as we are a small country. Accommodation and flights should be booked well in advance, and you may find the Scotland Travel Information page helpful.
If you're taking part in Homecoming Scotland and you plan visiting for a long stay, have a look at Hostels & Budget Accomodation in Scotland so you can pre-book somewhere to stay at the lowest possible prices.
Do you have an affinity with Scotland? Do you have family roots here? Have you Traced Your Ancestry back to here? The welcome mat is out whatever the reason for your visit, and you're guaranteed to fall in love with the place, our traditions and cultural heritage, our history and our castles, and the peace and scenic beauty of many parts of the country.
One thing is certain, Homecoming Scotland promises to be a wonderful and emotional experience, with families and old friends being reunited. There will also be a cosmopolitan influence throughout the country, so if you are planning a holiday for 2009, experience the magic of Scotland.
Homecoming Scotland 2009 Event Listings
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