'National Bagpipes Day', March 10

National Bagpipes Day – 10 March

National Bagpipes Day is celebrated on 10 March to recognise one of the world’s oldest and most distinctive musical instruments – the bagpipes. The day was first established in the United States in 2012 but it celebrates a musical tradition that stretches back centuries across Scotland, Ireland, England, Spain, Italy, the Balkans and the Middle East.

The instrument most people recognise is the Great Highland Bagpipe, strongly associated with Scottish culture, clans and military regiments. Bagpipes have long been played at ceremonies, parades, weddings, funerals and national celebrations, and their powerful sound was even used historically on the battlefield to inspire troops.

National Bagpipes Day is a chance to appreciate the skill of pipers, the history of traditional music, and the important role bagpipes play in cultural identity and heritage.

CST Song Of The Day – “Mull Of Kintyre” by Wings

“Mull Of Kintyre” (1977) by Wings, led by Paul McCartney, is one of the most famous songs to feature Scottish bagpipes.

The song celebrates the beauty of the Mull of Kintyre, a dramatic headland on Scotland’s west coast where McCartney owned a farm. Its stirring sound is created by the Campbeltown Pipe Band, whose bagpipes give the song its powerful and emotional character.

Released in 1977, the song became one of the best-selling singles in UK history and was the first single ever to sell more than two million copies in Britain. Its mix of folk melody, Scottish pride and unforgettable bagpipe music makes it a perfect choice to mark National Bagpipes Day.

As a follow on activity, you could ask members to identify (or point at) the following components of national Scottish dress and the bagpipes:

• Tam O'Shanter

• Prince Charlie or Argyll jacket

• Waistcoat

• Kilt

• Sporran

• Kilt hose

• Ghillie brogues

• Bag

• Blowpipe

• Chanter

• Drones

• Stocks

Clothing

• Tam O’Shanter – the round Scottish hat on the head.

• Prince Charlie / Argyll jacket – the formal jacket.

• Waistcoat – the vest under the jacket.

• Kilt – the tartan skirt garment.

• Sporran – the fur pouch hanging at the front of the kilt.

• Kilt hose – the long wool socks.

• Ghillie brogues – the laced shoes.

Bagpipes

• Bag – the tartan air bag under the arm.

• Blowpipe – the pipe in the mouth used to blow air into the bag.

• Chanter – the pipe pointing down that the fingers play.

• Drones – the three long pipes over the shoulder producing the constant sound.

• Stocks – the joints where the pipes connect into the bag.

If members want to continue listening some bagpipe music, here are some popular choices ...

And here are some other Wings songs ...