Planning a trip to Scotland? Some prefer to hire vans and have a road adventure within the country’s areas, while others like walking around the city with a list of places of interest. No matter what style of travelling you choose, it is always a good idea to dive into the culture of Scotland before your trip. It helps to make a better picture of the country and its uniqueness. You will probably fall in love with the beauty of Scotland. Here is some information about the culture of Scotland you should know!
The National Symbols
If you are planning to visit Scotland, make sure to know and respect the national symbols. This region is full of traditions and you will see and feel it everywhere around you on the streets. People there are also with their unique Scottish vibe. These cultural icons have been forming for years within the history of the country and its traditions. Meet the main symbols of Scotland:
- The Saltire or St. Andrew’s Cross
It is Scotland’s national flag and symbol. It consists of a saltire of white colour, situated on a blue coloured background. Every morning at 8:00 you can see this flag flying above the Scottish Government.
- Royal Arms of Scotland
That is the coat of arms officially confirmed in Scotland. The other name for it is Lion Rampant (unofficial);
- The Thistle
A wonderful flower emblem of the country. The original flower has purple leaves and sharp prickles;
- Honours of Scotland
The informal name is Scottish Crown Jewels. It is kept in Edinburgh.
- National Anthem of Scotland
The composition “Flower of Scotland” is often used as an unofficial anthem if it is not a royal event.
Folklore and mythology
Folklore and mythology are an integral part of the culture. Spend some time discovering more about it to be more interested in Scotland! There are couple of movies and documentaries about Scottish vibe, you can check them out and be more prepared for your upcoming trip.
Creatures
Folklore is rich in interesting mystical images and stories about them. One of the most popular creatures is the Loch Ness Monster. The legends say that it lives in the lake and looks like a dragon or sea serpent. The lake of the same name is available for tourists nowadays. You can look for a van for hire and try a family trip to Loch Ness. Who knows, maybe you will be able to see the legendary dragon there? Local people can tell you even more mystical stories around Scottish culture.
The other interesting creature is brownie. This is a spirit that protects home and household. There is no fixed description of brownie, but most of the time it is portrayed as a human-sized haired creature with dark skin. The legends say that these spirits appear at night and do different tasks, connected with the household.
Holidays
Have you ever heard of Halloween? Originally, it was celebrated during the night of October 31 in Scotland and Ireland. In the 19th century, immigrants brought the traditions of the celebration to the USA, and after that Halloween became popular all over the world. The original Scottish holiday is connected with the Christian feast, which was devoted to honouring the memory of the dead and saints.
Nowadays, it is celebrated in Scotland with various customs and traditions. Organize a fantastic road family trip in a car and enjoy this holiday in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, or Dundee. Besides, the van hire Dundee with the usage of rental24.co.uk prices are quite affordable.
Food and drink
The cuisine includes a number of country specialities, such as haggis – a pudding with sheep pluck. Cranachan is also a common dessert, which is made of raspberries, cream and whiskey. You can also look for shortbread – a traditional biscuit. There are also such dishes as Cullen skink and bannock. You should try it all, you wouldn’t be disappointed.
Art
The history of art in Scotland begins with the curved balls, made of stone, that belong to the Neolithic age. Since that time, the art began its formation and uniqueness and gained a huge number of amazing works, such as:
- Little Sparta. Find this garden, full of sculptural installations, depicting philosophical thoughts and aphorisms. It is open for visitors, and accessible by car from Dundee and Edinburgh. You can always find great options for Dundee car hire on the Internet and bring your friends to the park.
- Colonel Alastair Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry. Henry Raeburn finished the artwork in 1812. It represents the finest techniques and skills of the artist. It can be seen in the Scottish National Gallery.
- The Stairwell Project. Created in 2010, this piece of marvelous architecture depicts abstract and unusual lines and shapes. The artwork itself imitates floral motifs. You can find the work in the Scottish National Gallery Of Modern Art. It’s a nice place to include in your cultural road trip with friends or family. You may hire a van and travel across Scotland, observing such fine works as the Stairwell Project.
Music
The traditional music of Scotland stays loyal to its traditions and customs and depicts the unique culture of the country. The traditional musical instruments are wooden flute, accordion, and fiddle – a folk violin. The Great Highland Bagpipe is also closely connected to the icons of Scotland and really famous abroad.
One of the common musical styles is pibroch. It’s traditional music that nowadays is often used for official events. At the same time, it is complex and hard to perform, which makes it one of the hardest musical styles, played on bagpipes.
There are plenty of songs that are popular in the country. Besides “Flower of Scotland”, there are “I Love a Lassie”, “Auld Lang Syne” and even more.
P.S., hopefully you would be engaged with upcoming experience fully and our advices and small guideline would be useful for you.
