short breaks scottish borders short breaks scottish borders, short breaks northumberland, short breaks berwick, bed breakfast scottish borders, holiday accommodation, selfcatering north england, tweed business lets, acommodation, accomodation, fishing, short vacation breaks scottish borders, the debateable land HAWICK COMMON RIDING links the traditional riding of the town’s lands with a commemoration of the callants, young Hawick lads who in 1514 routed English plunderers, capturing their flag. Records of the Common Riding principals go back to 1703. A young man is chosen as Cornet and in the weeks before the main ceremonies he leads his mounted supporters, on a series of rideouts. Those who complete the long rough ride to Mosspaul and back are made members of the Ancient Order of Mosstroopers. Official proceedings begin on Thursday evening when in a ceremony of speech and song the Burgh Flag is bussed and entrusted to the Cornet. The next day bands, civic dignitaries and the mounted cavalcade process around the town. The Cornet with "the banner blue" leads his followers in the chase, a ride at full gallop in memory of the victorious youth of 1514. The traditional refreshment of curds and cream is taken. The riding of the marches, horse racing and the dipping of the flag in the River Teviot follow. Saturday events include the laying the wreaths at the War Memorial, horse racing and professional games. The Common Riding concludes with the Cornet returning the flag to the Provost. JEDBURGH CALLANTS FESTIVAL was inaugurated in 1947 and lasts two weeks with ceremonial rides to places of historic interest. The most important one is to Redeswire, close by Carter Bar, the site of a battle in 1575 when the timely arrival of the Jedburgh contingent with their cry "Jethart’s here" turned an apparent defeat of the men from Liddesdale into a rout of the English. An oration is delivered there by a guest speaker. The Callant, the young man leading the festival proceedings, takes custody of the Jethart Flag and on Festival Day leads the mounted cavalcade to Ferniehurst Castle, halts for a ceremony at the Capon Tree, survivor of the ancient Jed Forest, and returns to the town for the final ceremony at the War Memorial. Saturday commences with the firing of a cannon and a race around the town, followed by the Jedburgh Border Games, which date from 1853. KELSO CIVIC WEEK was inaugurated in 1937 and includes a raft race, sports, gymkhana, concerts and rideouts to neighbouring villages. On Wednesday the Kelso Laddie is installed and the Standard bussed, the ceremony in the Market Square concluding with the Kelso Laddie’s Reel. Two days later the Laddie is installed as Kelso Whipman commemorating the Old Whipman’s Society of Ploughmen, once active in the town. He leads his mounted followers to a ceremony at the Trysting Tree, the traditional meeting place of the whipmen. The chief ride to Yetholm takes place on Saturday and the festival concludes with a fancy dress parade, presentation of cups and the return of the Kelso Standard to the Provost. LAUDER COMMON RIDING was one of the original Border Comon Ridings and there is a reference to a ceremony in Town Council minutes of 1686. It was in abeyance for about 80 years, being revived to mark the coronation of George V in 1910. Sports, parades, dances and concerts precede the main events on the Saturday when the Cornet receives the Burgh Fag at the Tollbooth. He leads the mounted cavalcade to the Watering Stane and onto the Burgess Cairn, the only boundary stone still in existence. The proceedings conclude with a ceremony at the War Memorial and the return of the flag, with games and horse events in the afternoon
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