Feuds
Feuding is a long standing tradition in
Scotland particularly in the highland clans,
between religious groups and football teams.
Some Clans have long standing feuds with
other Clans. The most well known example
is probably that between the McDonalds and
the Campbells, which dates back to the Massacre
of Glencoe.
Religion
Religion is one of the things which family
feuds in Scotland may develop over. Religious
zealots have a fierce hold on the moral
fibre of the highlands, although it is diminishing.
And doing any work on Sundays or watching
TV is frowned on.
The Highland Games
This is possibily the most heavily culturally
themed festival. Men in skirts and vests
chuck big logs and swing iron balls around
their necks. The activities are known as
tossing the caber and hammer throwing and
take place at events called "highland
gatherings" - the last remnants of
the "gathering of the clans".
Scottish Dislikes
There are good historical reasons why almost
all Scots hate the English and why Highlanders
hate not only the English, but also Lowlanders
and almost everyone else, except the French.
The Scots in general hate the English because
an act of Parliament in 1872 made English
the language taught in schools. This led
to a degeneration fo the Scots language.
Scots speakers were made to feel that they
were inferior to English speakers. They
still used Scots at home but were told in
school that this was not "talking properly"
and there was a decline in writing in Scots.
Highlanders hate the English more than lowlanders
because about 100 years ago the language
generally spoken in the Highlands was the
Gaelic. The Gaelic was virtually wiped out
by the 'British' government's insistence
that all teaching in schools should be in
English.
Highlanders hate Lowlanders almost as much
as they hate the English because some treacherous
lowland Chieftains colluded with the English
for profit, helping the English to defeat
the Scots. This enabled the English to annexe
Scotland and create the act of union, thus
giving the English control over Scotland's
affairs to this day; though now that Scotland
has a parliament this may begin to change.
Also many of the landowners involved in
the highland clearances were lowlanders.
The Scots (mostly) like the French because
the French don't much like the Englsih or
the Germans and for historical factors.
Historical facts Hadrian's Wall was built by the
Romans as a protective wall between England
and Scotland. The Black hand are freedom fighters
like the IRA of Ireland. They have used
terrorist tactics in their fight for an
independent Scotland. Attempts to gain an
independent Scotland are now pursued through
the democratic process by politicians. Some
in Scotland hope that the recent devolution
of some power to a Scottish parliament will
eventually lead to independence. The Massacre of Glencoe is the
notorious incident in which the Campbells,
having accepted the hospitality of the McDonalds,
then opened the doors during the night and
allowed the McDonalds to be massacred in
their beds. This betrayal has never been
forgiven and most clans view the Campbells
suspiciously. The Highland clearances refers
to the eviction of many families from their
homes by local landowners to make way for
large scale sheep farming. Previously small
scale farmers rented land from the landowners
to live and grow crops. This was the general
way of life for most people in the north
until the highland clearances. Many went
to live on crofts, small plots of barren
land, on which it was hard to make a living.
Clans
All people of Scotland belong to a Clan,
an extended family group (or tribe) which
has a chieftain - the tribal head man. A
person's surname will be the same as the
clan name, although those of smaller subgroup
may have a different surname. These groups
are known as septs of the clan. Each clan
has a tartan - a pattern used in the weaving
of the woollen cloth used for the skirts
worn by Scottish men, called the Kilt. Only
clan members may wear a kilt of that clan's
tartan. And the consequences of wearing
a tartan to which you have no entitlement
can be grave. For this reason some manufacturers
have invented tartans not belonging to a
clan. Each clan also has a clan badge bearing
the clan's motto. To cross the territory
of a clan you should obtain a "chitty".
This is a paper, signed by the clan chief,
giving you permission to cross the clan
territory. The chitty confers a sort of
"temporary membership" of the
clan on visitors. The issuing of "chitties"
is a result of Scottish Tourist Board efforts
to persuade the Scots to be more "visitor
friendly", however, there are some
clans who may shoot strangers on sight,
even if they have a chitty, are wearing
an appropriate tartan and playing the pipes.
For women
Scotland is generally a relatively safe
country to travel in as a female, even if
you are alone. However it is always best
to dress sensibly, not to be out late alone
and not to visit areas where self-respecting
Scottish women would be, unless you want
to be there!
Language
English is widely spoken although some regions
had previous languages that were unfortunately
wiped out about 100 years ago when English
was enforced in schools.
Appointments
Try to arrive within 15 minutes of the appointed
time and ring if you are going to later.
