Scotland's Caber Toss - Big Part of Scotland's History and Culture

Scotland’s Caber Toss – Big Part of Scotland’s History and Culture

The Highland Games are a big part of Scotland’s history and culture. Places all over Scotland (and other parts of the world) celebrate this important cultural event every spring and summer. If you look at the middle of the field for a second and take your eyes off the sea of tartan, dancers, and bagpipes, you will see a group of brave people in kilts. In every game, these athletes have to show how strong and tough they are. The caber toss is the most impressive and hard to do.

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Scotland's Caber Toss — Pipers in kilts | © Courtesy Of Tori Chalmers

Most people think of sprinting, the long jump, or even the javelin throw when they think of field sports. At the Highland Games, on the other hand, you can expect to see heavy sports, most of which involve carrying heavy weights around. It’s important to remember that throwing the caber is not for the faint of heart. Think of the guy in the ad for Scott’s Porage Oats. Then picture him holding a huge wooden pole in his hands and throwing it. In essence, that’s what the caber toss is.

How much does a caber weight?

The caber throw is a traditional sport in Scotland. The word “caber” comes from the Gaelic words “cabar” or “kaber,” which mean “wooden beam.” This big wooden pole comes in different sizes because it is made from trees in the area. Length can range from 16 to 22 feet, and weight can be anywhere from 100 to 180 pounds. A smaller end is cut off so that the person throwing it can easily grab it. The people who compete are called “throwers” or “tossers.”

Caber Toss Highland Games

There is a lot more to tossing the caber than just throwing trees. Of course, there are rules that must be followed, just like in any other sport. Imagine all of the competitors lined up and waiting for their turn. When two men carry the caber over, the shenanigans start. It is stood up straight with the smaller, more whittled end of the pole facing down. The person who throws the caber must pick it up and hold the small end in their hands. Once the beam is in the right place, they run a short distance and then toss it so that it makes a full turn. When the bigger end hits the ground, the smaller end will flip over and face away from the thrower.

The caber toss is not about how far you can throw it. Instead, it’s all about where and how it lands. Think of a clock and put the caber thrower at 6 o’clock. The goal is to have enough power and skill to make the caber land exactly at 12. Judges stand behind the thrower and to the side so they can see how the caber lands and from what angle. A good rule of thumb for caber tossing is that only a few people should be able to lift and throw the caber during the event. The caber is too heavy if no one can lift it. A situation like this wouldn’t ruin the event, though. A worker would just show up and cut off a piece of the caber to make it smaller. On the other hand, it’s not ideal if everyone can pick it up and throw it. When this happens, the caber needs to be switched out for something heavier.

Tossing the caber is definitely an event that tests strength, endurance, and control (as opposed to distance). The history of where the caber toss came from is unclear, which is a shame. There are a lot of myths about how it all started. They range from the silly to the plausible. Many people think that the caber toss comes from the time when lumberjacks threw freshly cut logs into the fire. Some people say that the tradition comes from military customs. Some things, though, are better off not being solved. In this way, the mind can go crazy.

The caber toss has always been and will always be one of the most popular Highland Games events. Even now, there are still many Scottish heritage groups and Highland Games competitions all over the world. Strong men and women come from everywhere to throw the caber and show off their strength, poise, technique, and stamina. Some people might say that the whole thing is as crazy as a box of hamsters, but the Scots won’t give up.

Topic: Scotland’s Caber Toss – Big Part of Scotland’s History and Culture

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