Six secrets discovered at Scottish fest

It's no surprise to find people donning kilts, watching rugby or even eating some haggis at the 25th annual Illinois St. Andrew Society Scottish Festival and Highland Games, which debuted on Friday at its new location in Itasca's Hamilton Lakes.

Fest visitors knew they were in for all these Scottish traditions, as well as native dancing, heavy athletics and music. The festival, which attracts up to 15,000 visitors each year, will continue from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.

St. Andrew Society President Gus Noble said he hopes people loyal to the fest at its former Oak Brook location, along with many newcomers, will help create a strong turnout.

“The buzz so far is that people really like the new location, but I do fear the weather forecast has kept some people away tonight and we are hoping for great crowds tomorrow,” Noble said.

Friday's event kicked off with visitors checking out heavy athletics, music and more. But there's more to the traditions of this country than you ever learned watching “Braveheart” and “Highlander,” or even sipping a glass of Glenlivet.

So to help you show off your savvy as the fest continues, here's six Scottish secrets unearthed during opening night.

Ÿ Highland dance isn't “Lord of the Dance”: Sure, it might remind you of Michael Flatley's moves (that's Irish dancing, by the way), but Meghan Corcoran of Michigan explains that Highland dance has form and traditions all its own.

“All of our movements are directed out to the side,” she said, breathless after competing in three dances Friday.

She also said Highland dance was started by men and shared traditions of dances like the Highland Fling, which was once danced on the shield of warriors defeated by any Scot.

Corcoran also competed in a dance called the Sean Triubhas, which was performed after Scots regained rights from the British to wear kilts once again.

“Our legs are kicking out to the side a lot because it's literally a shedding of the trousers imposed by the British,” she said.

Ÿ Some heavy athletics competitors really have cabers at home: Sure, heavy athletes like Terry Smith of Lisle do traditional workouts like powerlifting or track and field events. It's an easy crossover, said Smith, an athletic coach at Aurora University.

But sometimes they really need a caber, which looks like a telephone pole, or a haggis to hurl for that extra edge.

“A few of us do own equipment like cabers and practice together,” he said.

These athletes are serious and travel throughout the country to compete. Some, like Friday's winner Rhett Bobzien of Wisconsin, even made it to Scotland once.

“You better believe it was intimidating,” he said.

Ÿ Scots have egg rolls too: Well, maybe this is a newer tradition. But Winston's restaurant of Tinley Park sold Scottish egg rolls on Friday made of back bacon, cheddar cheese, cabbage, onion and pickle.

Ÿ Heather Queens ‘talk more': Reigning Heather Queen Emily Veenbaas of Willowbrook has strong ties to her heritage and is a Highland dancer, just like this year's contestants Brooke Krasinski of Palatine and Arbie Karasek of Lombard. But the teens also pride themselves on being goodwill ambassadors for their community in any setting.

Which means, Krasinski sums up with a joke, “Heather Queens talk a lot more.”

Ÿ Highland dogs have talent: Michael Mifflin is of Irish descent while his wife Pamela Brown has Scottish roots, and the Downers Grove couple has been attending the Scottish fest for years. And for nearly a decade, they've brought along their three collies, Aoife, Dakota and Bevan, as well as their sheepdog, Quigley. On the weekends, the family skips the dog park. Instead, they take Quigley to herd sheep and goats, while Aoife learns to herd ducks.

Ÿ It's whisky, not whiskey: Only whisky from Scotland can be spelled without the ‘e.' And while the traditions, flavors and prices vary in hundreds of ways, Gus Noble jokes that one characteristic sets Scottish whisky apart.

“Scottish whisky is just better,” he said.