Common Riding: Celebrating History and Culture on the Scottish Borders

Over the past month, thousands of people have been participating in "Common Riding" events across Scotland.

The Common Riding, which is celebrated primarily in the Scottish Borders, is an annual event to commemorate the men who served to protect their lands against incursions from across the border during the Middle Ages.

Common Ridings take place in a number of different towns, each celebrating their own unique history and traditions.

Typically, the process begins when each town elects its 'principal man' to lead the official ceremonies, which are usually held over the summer. In modern times, these celebrations span over several weeks, and are composed of numerous ceremonies and traditions: such as ride outs, traditional entertainment, and Scottish sports.

To read more about the Common Riding, as well as to see some images and videos from some of the celebrations so far, head to: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-36574824