Fascinating Scottish Traditions And Customs

By Author: Raymond Devance
Total Articles: 18
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What are the things we know about Scotland? Other than their cute accent and their testosterone fueled menfolk in their men’s kilt, there are so many fascinating things about the Scots that are worth looking into.

Like, did you know the New Year’s Eve staple song Auld Lang Syne is written by the Scot Robert Burns and was originally a poem? Translated in English it means Times Gone By where people drink to old times, old friends and beautiful memories. Imagine those teary-eyed men in kilt toasting the good times.

So, what else?

Holidays

If the Irish have St. Patrick’s Day, which is greatly honored in the States with the wearing of green and lots of drinking, Scotland has St. Andrew’s Day celebrated every 30th of November. Patron saint not just of the country, he is also honored in Greece, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Constantinople.

On the eve of St. Andrew’s day, legend has it with the use of magic, a girl will be able to see her future husband or he can be bound to her.

Instead of New Year, Scot’s practice Hogmanay which literally means the last day of the year. During ...
... the Protestant Reformation era, the Scots weren’t allowed to celebrate Christmas as it was too Catholic. During that day they had to go to work and to compensate they just celebrated it on the day the year ended. Because of this, it became much bigger than Christmas.

If you’re familiar with the food Haggis, usually drank with whiskey (as if whiskey isn’t staple enough in every Scottish meal), it started with the holiday Burns Supper. Burns Supper has been part of the Scottish tradition for 200 years which is to memorialize the birth of their treasured poet Robert Burns, or whom they fondly call the great Rabbie.

Myth and Folklore

One of the most| famous mythological creatures in the world is the Loch Ness Monster. And this, supposedly, can only be seen in the lakes of Scotland. As popular as Big Foot, it is even affectionately called Nessie. One belief is that Nessie is a surviving member of Plesiosauri from the Jurassic Period.

Another mythical creature is Haggis which is a small hairy animal that is said to roam the countryside of Scotland. Others describe it as a three-legged bird. Others say it’s a mammal with four legs. These furry animals are more loved than Loch Ness, which is basically considered a monster, and poet Burns even wrote Ode to the Haggis and it is declaimed in Scotland whenever the dish is served.

The Skirt

This men’s skirt or what is actually known as mens kilt is probably the most popular tradition in Scotland that’s still being practiced now. In fact, kilts are so popular Scottish wedding has become a theme and there are so many kilts for rent to use for the occasion.

Kilt is literally a Scottish word which means tucking up the clothes around the body. In the past it used to be a full-length garment that was more like a dress or pulled up over the head like a cloak. It is only in the late 17th century where the men’s kilt shortened to use only for the bottom half.

There are so many fascinating things about the Scots that a single sitting isn’t enough.

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