BLG - Ceremonial
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Braw Lads Gathering 2014
Galashiels, UK. 28 June 2014
Braw Lads Gathering 2014
Morning Ceremonial Ride, 2014 Braw Lad Gavin Young, 2014 Braw Lass Alice Mackay, Bearer of the Sod - 2013 Braw Lad Daniel Whitehead, Bearer of the Red Roses - 2013 Braw Lass Lucy Black, Bearer of the Stone - 2012 Braw Lad Ryan Mania , Bearer of the White Roses - 2012 Braw Lass Nicola Mackay.
Established in 1930 to celebrate the town‘s history. Preliminary events precede the main ceremonies on the Saturday which begin with the Braw Lad receiving the Burgh Flag and leading his mounted supporters to the Raid Stane. Here in 1337 Gala lads killed English raiders in a field of wild plums.
The ride continues with crossing the Tweed to Abbotsford and returns to the Old Town cross where the creation of Galashiels as a Burgh of Barony in 1599 is recalled.
The ceremony of sod and stone (sasine) is enacted and red and white roses mingled on a base of thistles to commemorate the marriage of James IV of Scotland and Margaret Tudor.
(Photo: Rob Gray)
