Common Riding

Common Riding is an annual event celebrated in Scottish Border towns as well as in other locations. Common Riding is meant to commemorate the times of the past when local men risked their lives in order to protect their town and people.

The tradition of common riding dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries, during the continual land border wars both with England and against other clans. It was a Border Country custom to plunder and thieve cattle, known as reiving (a historical name for robbing), and commonplace amongst the major Borders families. In these lawless and battle-strewn times, it became the practice of the day for the local lord to appoint a leading townsperson, who would then ride the clan's boundaries, or "marches", to protect their common lands and prevent encroachment by neighbouring landlords and their peoples.

Long after they ceased to be essential, the ridings continued in commemoration of local legend, history and tradition.

In current times, Common Ridings celebrate each Border town's history and tradition in mid-summer, during a period spanning May through to June. Rideouts now involve hundreds of horses, often ridden in costume to evoke a passion worthy of the reivers of old.

Each community starts its celebration with the election of that year's principal man in the spring, chosen from amongst the community's young men. The leader of the community's celebration, once elected and until the end of ceremonies that year in that community, the principal man is an honoured figure. Each community often has a different name for their nominated leader/principal man:

Hawick is traditionally the start of the season of annual rideouts, due to the fact that the community captured a flag from the English army in 1514. The other oldest Common Ridings are held at Selkirk, Langholm and Lauder, each with histories tracing back over hundreds of years. Other towns which now hold ridings are: Lanark; Biggar; Peebles; Coldstream; Duns; Kelso; Jedburgh; Galashiels; Melrose; West Linton; Musselburgh; Linlithgow; Edinburgh.

While most community festivities last a week, some are focused around a few days while others last for up to two weeks. The programme will consist of a combination of ceremonies, rideouts, entertainment and traditional Scottish sports. Community spirit for the ride is symbolised by the Burgh Flag, which in a colourful ceremony is bussed, recalling the days when a knight's lady attached her ribbon to his lance before battle, where by now ribbons are tied to the Burgh Flag staff by the principal lass.

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Wikipedia