Scotland’s culture is dynamic and diverse. Its long history has contributed much to the traditions that still stand today.
People
Scots appreciate the differences that set them apart from the English, and take pride in the distinctions that also differentiate them region by region.
Scots are feisty, opinionated and fiercely loyal. Most all Scots delight in self-deprecating humor and possess a very dry wit.
The Scots have been stereotyped as being thrifty, cautious, and careful of detail.
Scots also have a great respect for learning which has led to the large number of innovations.
Dialect
The Gaelic Language is spoken by around 86,000 individuals primarily in the North of Scotland and in the Western Isles.
The Scot’s have also developed many colloquial terms which can make it extremely difficult for an outsider to understand.
Tourists who visit find a rich vocabulary of old Scots words in everyday use and in books and poems. There is a large collection of resources to help “translate”. The two most popular resources are:
TV segment called “Parliamo Glasgow” that showed the Glaswegian habit of slurring words together, interspersed with the odd slang word.
Series of books called “The Patter” that gave a Scottish slang to English translation (including words and entire phrases).
Many parts of Scotland say ‘nicht’ for night, and ‘ken’ for know. That throaty ‘ch’ sound is featured a lot in Scots words such as loch, the Scottish word for a lake.
There is also the commonly used ‘wee’ meaning small, and “aye” meaning yes.
Scots language can best be heard in the works of the national poet Robert Burns, author of the world-famous “Auld Lang Syne”.
Some unique Scottish Words:
Bairn- Child
Lassie/lass — Girl
Blather/blether- Talk nonsense/talk too much
Braw - fine or handsome
Skint- no money
Bumphlie-Rumpled
Eejit- Idiot
Glaiket- Foolish
Food
Scottish dishes are traditionally simple. The preferred cooking method is braising and stewing where as in England it is frying and roasting.
Scottish cuisine has been known to be somewhat bland and overcooked, but this has changed in recent years.
Native specialties include:
Haggis: (liver, heart and lungs of a sheep boiled with Beef fat; fat is then skimmed off and the rest minced. Oatmeal, onion, salt, pepper, spices and gravy from the boiling are added before the mixture is put into a sheep stomach casing). It is actually really tasty!
Angus beef, lamb, pheasant, venison, steak-and-kidney pie and seafood (e.g. Salmon (posh) and fish-and-chips (not so posh)). Chips are fries!
Soup is a main staple as well as desserts and pastries such as shortbread and oatcakes.
Scottish breakfasts are known for generous portions, consisting of cereal, black pudding, fried egg, sausage, bacon, potato scone, fried tomato, beans, toast and tea or coffee.
Scottish Fish and chip shops were first to deep fry Mars bars, Snickers bars, and pizzas.
Aside from whisky the Scottish have a second national drink - Irn Bru. It is very sweet, very orange, and consistently outsells Coca Cola.
Comparisons
Education
Children attend Nursery school (3 to 5 years), Primary School until age 12, then Secondary school. Students may legally leave school at 16 but very few now do (most stay on for another 2 years). After 5 years in secondary school, pupils sit Highers - these can be used for applying to university.
Most School’s require uniforms.
University of Strathclyde in Glasgow is the largest University with ~15,000 students.
No fee’s for Scottish students attending University in Scotland.
Housing
Average home price in Scotland in 2003 was £95,000 ($185,000). US average was $245,000.
More than a quarter of homes are owned by a council or housing association and rented out.
30% of homes are semi-detached. Average home size in US is 2,200sq ft which is double the average European home size.
Income
Average annual income in 2003 was £24,700 ($47,000). US average was $43,000.
Healthcare: The National Health Service (NHS) was set up in 1948 to provide free healthcare for all the residents of the UK.
Taxes: Income tax rate of 22% up to £30,000 and then 40% over £30,000.
Cost of everyday items
Gas (petrol) in Scotland: £3.40/gallon ($6.50/gallon). US average $2.22/gallon
Clothes: Dept store Jeans= £35 ($65). 3 pack boxers= £15 ($27). Running shoes £45 ($85).
Beer: £2.15/pint ($4/pint)
Midrange Restaurant: £20/head ($38). Big Mac Meal £3.50 ($5.70). Fish and chips £3.50 ($6.50).
Car: Toyota Corolla: £9,000 ($17,000) just basic Spec. With added features average car price closer to £12,000 ($23,000).
Popular Sports
Football (US Soccer) is the national sport. Most cities and towns have a professional team. Huge rivalries exist between Glasgow’s Celtic’s and Rangers. This is known as the ‘Old Firm rivalry’ under pinned by religious and sociological differences.
Rugby. Only the amateur game (Rugby Union) is played in Scotland; the professional Rugby League is played exclusively in North of England. Scotland is a major force in international rugby, taking part in the “Six Nations” Championships (with England, Ireland, Wales and France and Italy) and regularly touring other Rugby nations.
Golf. Golf was invented in Scotland. Most towns have at least one golf course and Edinburgh has at least 21.
Traditional Highland Games (events such as stone-throwing, weight tossing, hammer-throwing, caber tossing).
Dealing with the Scottish-Do’s and Don’ts
Don’t call a Scot an Englishman (and don’t refer to the country as England). Scottish people dislike being referred to as an annex of England.
Do “queue up” (get in line) when waiting. If you don’t, no one will be shy to point out that you’re a queue jumper.
Do arrive on time.
Don’t be “too full of yourself”.
Don’t put ice in your whiskey.