Herring Queen Festival facts for kids

The Eyemouth Herring Queen Festival is a super fun celebration held every year in Eyemouth, a lovely fishing town in the Borders region of Scotland. It's a special event that honors the town's long history with the sea and its brave fishermen.

What is the Eyemouth Herring Queen Festival?

This festival is a big deal in Eyemouth! It's a time when the whole community comes together to celebrate their fishing heritage. The main part of the festival is the crowning of the Herring Queen, a young person who represents the town's spirit and connection to the sea.

How the Festival Began: The Peace Picnic

The festival actually started way back after a very big war called World War I (1914-1918). A kind person named J. C. Chrystie wanted to celebrate the end of the war and bring joy to the town. So, he organized the first "Peace Picnic" or "Fisherman's Picnic."

This picnic became a yearly tradition. It was a special holiday for all the fishermen in Eyemouth and everyone connected to the fishing industry. It was a day for fun, relaxation, and celebrating peace.

The Birth of the Herring Queen

In 1939, the people organizing the picnic had a great idea! They thought it would be wonderful to crown a Queen. They believed this would make the event even more exciting for the young people of Eyemouth.

The crowning of a Queen would also be a way to show important ideas and everyday life connected to a fishing community. It was a chance to celebrate the hard work and traditions of the town's fishing families.

The Herring Queen Today

Even though life has changed a lot since the first picnic, the main ideas of the festival are still the same. Kids still enjoy their picnic, and a Queen is still crowned!

For many years, up until 2001, the Herring Queen was chosen by a popular vote at the local high school. But now, a group of local townspeople selects the Queen after interviewing different nominees. This ensures that the person chosen truly represents the community.

The Eyemouth Herring Queen Festival continues to be a beloved tradition, keeping the town's unique fishing history alive for new generations.