|
A cairn is a non-naturally occurring pile of stones
erected by humans. This structure may be solidified
through the use of cement. Cairns vary from small piles of stones
to marvelous feats of engineering. The term cairn has been derived
from the Scottish Gaelic càrn meaning
stone pile. The erection and significance of cairns may be religious.
In Scotland,
it is tradition to carry a stone up from the base of the hill
to place upon a cairn at the top.
An old Scots
Gaelic blessing is "Cuiridh mi clach air do chàrn,
i.e. 'I'll put a stone on your cairn'.
In the Antigonish region cairns have been erected to showcase the Scottish
culture of its decendants. The Chisholm, Chattan, MacDougall, and MacDonald
clans all have Cairns around the town of Antigonish. Cairns in honour
of the Antigonish Highland Society as well as the local 4H chapter
have been constructed. The locations of these cairns may be seen on
the Interactive
Map page.
|
