SCOTLAND

Scotland is a land of mountains and lakes with a population of about 5 million. The Scottish culture is different than the English. Let’s see it:

“Men in Skirts”

The kilt is a piece of clothing which many Scottish men wear on special occasions. It is a 3-meters piece of clothes that it uses like a skirt. Men wear a sporran too, which is a kind of large purse that hangs from a belt.

Tartan is the name of a typical coloured pattern. Every family have a different and significant tartan. There are more than 4000 of it!

There was a time that English government banned kilts, because they thought that tartan was a symbol of independence.

In 1969, an astronaut who stood on the moon, wore tartan.

Pipers (the men who play the bagpipes, a traditional instrument) usually wears kilts and sporrans.

Food

The most famous Scottish food is haggis, which is a sheep’s stomach with meat, onion, oats, spices and salt.

Porridge is another dish which is made by boiling oats in milk.

Shortbread is a delicious butter biscuit.

Aberdeen Angus beef and salmon are also well-known for a very good Scotland dishes.

Iconic Places

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and is very popular for the Castle and the famous streets such as Princes Street and the Royal Mile. The Edinburgh Festival is one of the most important festivals of theatre and music.

Many famous philosophers and writers lived in Edinburgh: Robert Louis, J.K.Rowling and more.

The Scottish highlands are the mountains and valleys in the northern half of the country.

Loch Lomond is the largest lake in Scotland and Loch Ness is the most famous.

Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain.

Glasgow and Aberdeen are other Scottish cities. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and Aberdeen is in the north.

Iconic creatures

The Loch Ness Monster is the most famous inhabitant of Scotland. There is a legend of it. Do you believe in Nessie? She is very good for the Scottish tourist!

Dolly the sheep is another famous Scottish animal. She was the first mammal who was cloned.

Iconic People

William Wallace and Robert the Bruce were two great Scottish heroes who fought for independence from England. Wallace won a great victory but in the next battle he was defeated. His heard was shown to the people on London Bridge.

Robert ehe Bruce was put in prison by the English. When he was there, he watched a spider trying six times to make a web, and in the seventh time he succeeded. This example taught him to keep trying, and he escaped from prison an he produced a war.

Mary Queen of Scots had a dramatic and very sad life.

• She married a French prince when she was 15.
• His husband died and she returned as Queen to Scotland.
• She was a Catholic, so Protestant Scots hated her.
• Her secretary, Rizzio, was murdered by her husband in front of her.
• Her second husband was murdered.
• She married for a third time but she had to run away from Scotland.
• She was in prison for 20 years.
• She planned to take the place of her cousin Elizabeth I.
• She was beheaded.
• Her son James became King of England.

Robert Burns is a poet. His poems in Scottish dialect became very popular. He died in his 37, but his poems live on.

There are many other famous Scottish people like Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who were writers.

Sean Connery was a famous actor and Susan Boyle was a singer.

The most popular scientist were James Watt (steam engine), Alexander Bell (telephone), Alexander Fleming (penicillin) and John Logie Baird (TV).

Sport

The best-known Scottish football teams are Rangers and Celtic.

The manager of Machester United is Scottish.

Golf is another popular sport, and in the winter you can go skiing in the Highlands.

The Highland Games is a typical Scottish sporting event. The events include “tossing the caber” (men have to throw a long piece of tree trunk). In California played this games too.

Celebrations

New Year is more important than Christmas.

Scottish people know it as “Hogmanay”. There are street parties, and the people sing “Auld Lang Syne”.

Burn Night takes place on the birthday of Robert Burns, 25^th January. People read poems and sing songs.