Let`s Learn about Scotland

Where is Scotland? (map of Scotland)

Scotland comes from Scoti, the Latin name for the Gaels. The Late word Scotia (land of the Gaels) was initially used to refer to Ireland. By the 11th century at the latest, Scotia was being used to refer to (Gaelicspeaking) Scotland north of the river Forth, alongside Albania or Aalbany, both derived from the Gaelic Alba. The use of the words Scots and Scotland to encompass all of what is now Scotland became common in the Late Middle Age.

A few facts about Scotland

Is a country which is part of United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, It shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the southwest. In addition to the mainland Scotland is made up of more than 790 islands including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides. The Kingdom of Scotland emerged as a independient sovereign state in the Early Middle Ages and continued to exist until 1707, althougth it had been in a personal union with the kingdoms of England and Ireland since James VI of Scotland succeeded to the English an Irish thrones in 1603 .
On 1 May 1707, Scotland entered into a political union with England to create the Kingdom of Great Britain. This union resulted from the Treaty of Union agreed in 1706 and enacted by the twin Acts of Union passed by the Parliaments of both countries, despite popular opposition and anti-union riots in Edinburgh, Glasgow and elsewhere. Scotland's legal system continues to be separate from those of England and Walesand Northern Ireland, and Scotland constitutes a distinct jurisdiction in public andprivate law.] The continued existence of legal, educational and religious institutions distinct from those in the remainder of the UK have all contributed to the continuation of Scottish culture and national identity since the Union. In 1999, a devolvedlegislature, the Scottish Parliament,

was reconvened with authority over many areas of home affairs following a referendum in 1997. In 2011, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won an overall majority in parliament and intends to hold a referendum on independence on 18 September 2014.[ Scotland is a member nation of the BritishIrish Council, [] the BritishIrish Parliamentary Assembly and also participates within the Common Travel Areaagreement.

The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh

Is the capital city of Scotland, situated on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth. With a population of 495,360 in 2011 (up 1.9% from 2010), it is the largest settlement in Lothian and lies at the centre of a larger urban zone of approximately 850,000 people. [4] While the town originally formed on the ridge descending from the Castle Rock, the modern city is often said to be built on seven hills.

Symbols of Scotland

The thistle has been the national emblem of Scotland since the reign of Alexander III (12491286) and was used on silver coins issued by James III in 1470. It is the symbol of the Order of the Thistle, a high chivalric order of Scotland. It is found in many Scottish symbols and asthe name of several Scottish football clubs. The thistle, crowned with the Scottish crown, was the symbol of seven of the eight former Scottish Police Services (from which a new national Police Service was formed in 2013), the sole exception being the former Northern Constabulary.

The Royal Arms of Scotland[1] is a coat of arms symbolising Scotland and the Scottish monarchs.

The money used in Scotland is called the pound sterling The population of Scotland is 4,996,000 Today, the primary languages spoken in Scotland are English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic. The dialect of English spoken in Scotland is referred to as Scottish English. Education

The Scottish education system has always remained distinct from the rest of United Kingdom, with a characteristic emphasis on a broad education.[182] Scotland was the first country since Sparta in classical Greece to implement a system of general public education. [60] Schooling was made compulsory for the first time in Scotland with the Education Act of 1496; then, in 1561, the Church of Scotland set out a national programme for spiritual reform, including a school in every parish. Education continued to be a matter for the church rather than the state until the Education Act (1872).

Culture

Scottish music is a significant aspect of the nation's culture, with both traditional and modern influences. A famous traditional Scottish instrument is the Great Highland Bagpipe, is a wind instrument .

Traditionals Scottish Festivals

First footing - 1st January Visiting friends and relatives immediately after New Year's Eve, in the early hours of the morning of January 1st. First footing after the bells have rung in the New Year is still common - the "first foot" in the house after midnight should be male, dark, and handsome and should carry symbolic coal, shortbread, salt, black bun ( a spiced cake) and, of course, whisky. In Kirkwall, Orkney, there is a New Year Ba' Game held in the streets of the town which can last most of January 1st, between the Uppies and the Doonies, or more correctly, "Up-the-Gates" and "Doon-the-Gates" from Old Norse "gata" (path or road). Near the Forth Rail Bridge at South Quuensferry on the morning of 1 January, around a 1,000 brave souls plunge into the icy waters of the river Forth in the Loony Dook . Many thousands of pounds have been raised for a variety of charities asa a result of this event which has been running now since 1986. Burning of the Clavie - 11th January In Burghead, Morayshire, a tar barrel filled with tar-soaked wood shavings is carried around the harbour and then to

the Doorie Hill where the Celtic Druids used to light their fires. Up-Helly-aa - Last Tuesday of January Held in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, a full sized Viking Galley, complete with shields and oars is pulled by a torch-bearing procession dressed as Viking warriors to the beach. Guizer Jarl calls for three cheers for the builders of the longship and after a bugle call, the galley is set alight by 800 blazing torches. St Valentine's Day - 14th February This used to be an excuse for youngsters to go round begging for sweets, money or fruit, while older brothers and sisters tried to find a sweetheart. "Name-papers" were sometimes used where names were written and placed in a bonnet and and each person drew out a paper. If the same name was drawn three times, it meant a marriage would take place! Whuppity Scoorie - 1st March A rumbustious celebration by the young lads of Lanark. It is a relic of the days when making a lot of noise was believed to frighten away the evil spirits. Pennies supplied by money from the Common Good Fund were thrown and the children scrambled to pick it up. Balls of paper (or bonnets - a lot softer!) tied with string were used by the participants to strike one another. Beltane's Day - 1st May A pagan fire festival which goes back to pre-Christian times - originating with Baal in Phoenicia. It was supposed to encourage the crops to grow. There has been a holiday at the start of May in many parts of Scotland for centuries. Young girls would also rise early to wash their faces in the May dew. The custom of lighting fires at this time has come through in place names such as Tarbolton in Ayrshire ("tor" meaning hill and "bolton" from "Beltane"). The ancient Druidic Fire Festival has been revived by "New Age" followers who gather on the historic Calton Hill in Edinburgh. Selkirk Common Riding - 18th June A ceremony of Riding the Marches or boundaries is traditional in a number of locations around Scotland, and the tradition has still survived particularly in the Scottish Borders. Selkirk's is particularly well known, remembering as it does the Battle of Flodden in June 1488, but there are similar festivities (on differing dates) in Langholm, Lauder, Peebles, Annan, Linlithgow and Sanquha

Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night - 5 November Recalling the attempt by Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament with 20 barrels of gunpowder in 1605. Bonfires, fireworks and "penny for the guy" (an effigy of Guy Fawkes, providing an excuse for children to plead for money from passers-by). This is not a specifically Scottish festivity - it is UK wide but it took place shortly after the Union of the Crowns when King James VI of Scotland became king of England and Wales also. Hogmanay - New Year's Eve, 31 December The origins of the word "Hogmanay" are lost in the past. Some say it is from the Norse "Hoggunott" or night of slaughter when animals were killed for a midwinter feast. Also that it is from "Huh-me-naay" or kiss me now when even strangers embraced. Another theory is that it comes from the French "Hoguinane" sung by children on "Cake Day". To this day, Hogmanay is still a more important festival in Scotland than Christmas. Historians believe that we inherited the celebration from the Vikings who, coming from even further north than ourselves, paid even more attention to the passing of the shortest day. While clearly celebrated around the world, the Scots have a long rich heritage associated with this event, when the whole country celebrates in the build up to "the bells" chiming midnight - and Burns' song "Auld Lang Syne" is murdered once again! There are traditions such as cleaning the house (known as "redding") on 31st December (including taking out the ashes from the fire in the days when coal fires were common). And Scotland is the only part of the UK that has a statutory holiday on 2nd January as well as 1st January so we can recover from the excesses of 31 December!

Scottish families are called clans and each clan has a special plaid to show what their family is. A Scottish clan (from Gaelic clann, "progeny") is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon, which regulates Scottish heraldry and coats of arms. Most clans have their own tartan patterns, usually dating from the 19th century, which members may incorporate into kilts or other clothing.

These are just a sample of the events that make up Clan Fortnight, providing a wealth of history and entertainment whether you're a part of a clan, or simply a clan fan!

Let`s visit Some Important Cities in Scotland GLASGOW

Glasgow (English /lzo/; Scots: Glesca; Scottish Gaelic: Glaschu) is the largest city in Scotland and the third largest in the United Kingdom. It is situated on the River Clyde in the country's West Central Lowlands. Inhabitants of the city are referred to as Glaswegians

George Square, Glasgow

George Square lies at the heart of Glasgow, Scotland, a bustling seaport and industrial center. The City Chambers building, shown in the background, is constructed in the Italian Renaissance style, which was popular in the 19th century. In the foreground is a column topped by a statue of novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott.

World Pipe Band Championships, Glasgow

Every August, the city of Glasgow, Scotland, hosts the World Pipe Band Championships. The prestigious competition, sponsored by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, draws

thousands of pipers and drummers from bagpipe bands around the world.

Scottish Highlands

More than half of the surface of Scotland is occupied by the Scottish Highlands, the most rugged region in Great Britain. They consist of parallel mountain chains with a general northeast-to-southwest trend, broken by deep ravines and valleys.

Loch Ness

Loch Ness is the largest of a series of interlinked lochs, or lakes, located in northern Scotlands Great Glen. Loch Ness is one of Scotlands top tourist attractions.

Ben Nevis, Scotland

Ben Nevis, in western Scotlands Grampian Mountains, is the tallest mountain in the British Isles and a popular tourist destination. More than 300 million years of erosion have rounded the top of the mountain, once a lofty volcano. Loch Linnhe can be seen here in the foreground, with the town of Fort William on its south shore, at the foot of Ben Nevis.

Scottish Oil Pipeline

A pipeline under construction near Strathclyde is designed to transport oil produced from Scotlands vast North Sea oil fields. The oil and natural gas industry is a major source of employment in Scotland.

Forth Bridge, Scotland

The Forth Bridge, a steel railway bridge across the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh, Scotland, was built between 1882 and 1890. It is one of the longest cantilever bridges in the world.

National Gallery of Scotland

The National Gallery of Scotland, founded in 1859 in Edinburgh, is housed in a neoclassical building designed by Scottish architect William Playfair. The museum has an outstanding collection of paintings, prints, and drawings by European artists from the Renaissance to the late 19th century. The gallerys collection of Scottish paintings is especially strong

Aberdeen's Union Street Aberdeen

Aberdeen sits astride the Dee and Don rivers, facing the North Sea. For centuries a major trading port and center of the Scottish fishing industry, Aberdeen has, since the 1970s, emerged as the principal center of Great Britain's North Sea oil industry. Union Street cuts through the heart of the city and is the site of Aberdeen's main shopping district and the town hall. The nearby harbor is the chief outlet for trade between Scotland and the Baltic region of Northern Europe and Scandinavia.

Kings College Chapel Kings

Kings College Chapel is on the campus of the . University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland

Whiskey Distillery in Scotland

Scotland is the largest whiskey producer in the world. Many small distilleries continue to produce their own unique interpretation of Scotch whisky. Strathisla, shown here, was founded in 1786 and is the oldest operating distillery in the Scottish Highlands.

SCOTLAND FOOD
The national dish haggies and neeps (innards and offal chopped up with spices and cooked in a sheeps stomach, serverd with mashed turnip) What is haggies? Haggis is made from lamb`s offal (lungs, liver and heart) mixed with suet, onions,herbs and spices, all packed into a skin bag traditionally, but not usually now, made of a sheep`s stomahc. Haggis is often served with mashed potatoes and mashed swede or turnips. It is traditionally served on Burns Night

Other scottish food include: Bannocks: is a from of flat cake baked on a griddle. Generally made kof oatmeal, it takes the form of a large oatcake biscuit. Some Scotsuse the term Bannoc to refer to a wheat flour cake similar to a large thin scone.

STOVIES

Similar to the Franch Pot au au Feu, the dish usually consist of tatties (potatoes) and some from of cold meat (especially susages or leftover roast)

SCOTTIS BEEF The Aberdeen-Angus breed of beef cattle are fomus for their rich an tasty meat, wich makes excellent steaks.

BLAK BUN A very Rich fruit cake, made with raisins, currants, finely chopped Peel, chopped almonds and brown sugar with the addition of cinnamon and Ginger.

SCOTTLAND- SPORT

The sporting traditions of Scotland are legendary worldwide. Scotland boasts the invention of many popular international sports, including tennis, golf and rugby. Hockey, curling, shinty, and the Scottish Highland Games also play an important role in the history of Scottish sport. One of the nations most popular sports is football. William McGregor, a Scotsman, set up the first English football league, and the first international football match was played in Scotland in 1872 in Partick, Glasgow, to be precise. Today, football is played throughout Scotland by amateurs and world-renowned professionals alike. Scotland: the home of Golf Scotsmen have been playing golf or gowf, as it was once known here as far back as the 15th century. It was later banned by King James II as a distraction from military training, but has since grown into a multi-billion dollar industry and holds the title of the biggest amateur sport in the world. Today there are over 570 golf courses in Scotland. In many places, golf is still regarded as an exclusive pastime. This is not the case in Scotland, in which members of the public can play on some of the finest municipal golf courses in the world for a very small fee.

Highland games The more traditional Scottish sports, including tossing the caber, tug o war, cross-country running and hammer throwing, are all celebrated at over 60 Scottish Highland Games events across the country each year. The Highland Games are a host of fun for both spectators and participants, and they are a major event in Scotlands summer sports calendar.

SCOTTISH CELEBRITIES

SEAN CONNERY

GERARD BUTLER

EWAN MAC GREGOR

DOLLY

ADAM SMITH ALEXANDER FLEMING

DAVID MC CALLUM

AC/DC DONALD

DAVID HUME

KELLY MAC