Dreamland Scotland…
If you still do not believe that there is a real fairy tale country in the world, then you have not
discovered Scotland yet.
Let’s take a short trip to this mystical land together.
The Scottish clan system plays a big role in Scottish culture and tradition and has it’s roots in the
ancient Celtic tribal system. So it fits in perfectly! Clan system seems to have been pretty well
established by the 11th and 12th century, but signs of their existence go back as far as the 6th
century.
The word ‘clan’ comes from the Gaelic word ‘clann’, which meant ‘family, offspring, children’ and
that’s basically what they still represent, large family groups.
The most famous among these clans is the ‘Wallace’ clan, which fought for the independence of
Scotland, to which the famous hero William Wallace is also affiliated.
William Wallace is undoubtedly one of the most important figures in Scottish history.
The Scottish Knight Wallace in the movie ‘Braveheart’ is a folk hero who fought for the
independence of Scotland and defeated the English in battle in 1297.
Where is Scotland?
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of
Great Britain.The Atlantic Ocean, which fringes the coastline of western and northern Scotland and
its islands, influences the temperate, maritime climate of the country.
There are also many rivers and lakes, including the famous Loch Ness and Loch Lomond.The country,
which has a population of five million, still keeps its old traditions alive today, unlike many nations
whose identity has been lost.
The first country that comes to mind when you think of a castle is undoubtedly Scotland. Although
there were close to 4000 castles in Scotland centuries ago, nearly 200 of them exist today.The best
known of these castles are Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Glamis Castle, Huntingtower
Castle.These castles are quite fascinating…
Scottish stories and legendary creatures
Scotland is a land of myths and legends. The stories of Scotland have inspired writers, artists and
poets for centuries. Mythical monsters have always been a fascinating part of the rich history and
folklore of the land.
Ancient Scots were curious about the world around them and their fantastical explanations of
natural phenomena often involved the creation of mythical creatures with amazing powers…Scottish
folklore is filled with tales of elves, spirits, fairies, ghosts, monsters, goblins, giants, and mythical
animals. The most well-known of Scotland’s creatures, Nessie otherwise known as the Loch Ness
monster…
Glasgow and football
Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city. Sport plays an important role in the culture of Glasgow. Glasgow
was the host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and was named European Capital of Sport in
2003.
First color photograph
In 1861 Scottish mathematical physicist James Clerk MaxwellOffsite Link produced the earliest color
photograph, an image of a tartan ribbonOffsite Link, by having it photographed three times through
red, blue, and yellow filters, then recombining the images into one color composite. Because of this
photograph Maxwell is credited as the founder of the theory of additive colorOffsite Link.
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character created by the Scottish writer Arthur Conan Doyle. However,
Conan Doyle did model Holmes’s methods and mannerisms on those of Dr. Joseph Bell, who had
been his professor at the University of Edinburgh Medical School. Conan Doyle took inspiration from
Bell’s method of diagnosing a patient’s disease.
Haggis
If you happen to be in Scotland, you should definitely eat Haggis.
Haggis, the national dish of Scotland, a type of pudding composed of the liver, heart, and lungs of a
sheep (or other animal), minced and mixed with beef or mutton suet and oatmeal and seasoned
with onion, cayenne pepper, and other spices. The mixture is packed into a sheep’s stomach and
boiled.
Traditional dishes
Scottish food is all about local flavor and traditions and getting to know their food is a great way to
get to know more about Scottish culture. The food in Scotland takes influence from other European
nations and the United Kingdom, but it is unique to itself.
Modern-day Scottish cuisine still focuses on local ingredients, but in a more refined way. The dishes
here elevate the simple into sometimes show-stopping.
“Cullen skink, cock-a-leekie soup, arbroath smokies, Scottish Porridge, full scottish breakfast, scotch
pie (mince meat pie), aberdeen rolls, rumbledethumps (potato casserole)…”
Scottish medicine
Scottish-born Alexander Fleming, the pioneer of modern medicine, is the inventor of penicillin.
Why does Scotland and Ireland have a lot of red-headed people?
In places like Scotland where the climate is cold and gray, this ability gives them a genetic advantage
compared to those with other hair colors. Hundreds of years ago during the days of the Vikings,
having red hair was actually an evolutionary edge for surviving long, cold winters
The people of Ireland (and in second place Scotland) have the highest rate of occurence of red hair in
the world.
It is estimated that 34.8% of the Irish population carry the allele for red hair- and the Scottish
population- a little higher at about 35.15% of the population. This translates into just under 11% of
the Irish population having red hair- and a lower rate of just over 6% in Scotland (despite the
occurrence of the allele being higher in Scotland).
The allele for red hair- is also responsible for melanin levels in the skin- which confers an advantage
on those with red hair who live in climates with lower levels of sunlight- as they are far better able to
absorb Vitamin D from sunlight despite the lack of sunlight.
This geographical benefit- turns into a curse the further south you go- as skin burns more readily
with lower melanin levels- and there is a direct correlation with the incidence of skin cancer.
Encyclopaedia Britannica
The ‘Encyclopaedia Britannica’ is considered to be one of the enduring achievements of the Scottish
Enlightenment. First issued in 1768, ‘Britannica’ has its origins in Edinburgh. It was published by Colin
Macfarquhar (1744/5-1793), a printer, and engraver Andrew Bell (1725/6-1809).
Kilt
Now let’s talk about that famous Scottish skirt Kilt. The Scots are famous for their Kilt-wearing men.
Kilts are generally worn on special occasions. Each of the clans in Scotland wear kilts of a different
color and pattern.
Robert Burns
Scotland’s most famous poet is Robert Burns. Burns (1759-1796) wrote many classic poems and
songs. He widely thought of as the national poet of Scotland, wrote some of the most popular and
well-loved Scottish poems of all time. His life is celebrated each year around the world on his
birthday, 25th January.
Bagpipe
Scotland has a wide range of traditional instruments with significance way back in Scottish history.
These instruments are still played today across the world!
While not all of these instruments originated from Scotland, they were all made symbols of cultural
significance from the way Scots used them. Some were weaponised, some were used in ceremonies
and some simply form the backbones to music heard at ceilidh’s throughout the country.
Due to their inspirational influence, bagpipes were classified as instruments of war during the
Highland uprisings of the early 1700s, and following the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle
of Culloden in 1746, the government in London attempted to crush the rebellious clan system.
Golf
Golf originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland, in an area close to the royal
capital of Edinburgh. In those early days players would attempt to hit a pebble over sand dunes and
around tracks using a bent stick or club. During the 15th century, Scotland prepared to defend itself,
yet again, against an invasion by the ‘Auld Enemy’. The nation’s enthusiastic pursuit of golf however,
led many to neglect their military training, so much so that the Scottish parliament of King James II
banned the sport in 1457.
Although people largely ignored the ban, it was only in 1502 that the game gained the royal seal of
approval when King James IV of Scotland (1473 -1513) became the world’s first golfing monarch.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and it is located in central eastern Scotland, near the Firth of
Forth, close to the North Sea.
Thanks to its spectacular rocks, rustic buildings and a huge collection of medieval and classic
architecture, including numerous stone decorations, it is often considered one of the most lively
cities in Europe. Scottish people called it Auld Reekie, Edina, Athens of the North and Britain’s Other
Eye.
Edinburgh is not only one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, it is a city with a fantastic position.
The view falls on all sides – green hills, the hint of the blue sea, the silhouettes of the buildings and
the city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK. It is the capital of Scotland and
home to many tourist attractions.
Edinburgh Festival
One of the first things that comes to mind when Edinburgh is mentioned is the world-famous
Edinburgh Festival. This festival lasts about 25 days and all kinds of artistic, cultural, traditional
events are available.
If you happen to be in the UK one day, I recommend you to stop by Wales and Scotland.
Many legendary stories are waiting for you to witness…
Hülya Özkoyuncu