History
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 tribal custom to plunder and thieve cattle, known as reiving (the ancient Celtic word for robbing), and commonplace amongst the major Borders families. In these lawless and battle-strewn times, it became the practise 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.
Read more about this topic: Common Riding
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“The whole history of civilisation is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.”
—Walter Bagehot (1826–1877)
“History takes time.... History makes memory.”
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)
“It is the true office of history to represent the events themselves, together with the counsels, and to leave the observations and conclusions thereupon to the liberty and faculty of every man’s judgement.”
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626)