Lesson. 10 Scotalnd's Cultural Uniqueness
Scotland has a long history and there are many interesting aspects to its
culture. Here are an introduction to Scotland and some of the things
which make its people uniquely Scottish.
In Europe men don't usually wear skirts. But the Scottish national dress
for men is a kind of skirt. It is called a kilt. The kilt is a loose skirt
that reaches just below the knees. The Scots like to be different.
They are proud of their country and its history, and they feel that the
kilt is part of that history. That's why the men still wear kilts at
traditional dances and on national holidays. The kilt did not become
popular until the 18th century. Before 1730, Scottish men wore a long shirt
and a blanket around their shoulders.
These clothes got in the way when the men started to work in factories.
So, in 1730, a factory owner changed the blanket into a skirt.
That's how the first kilt was made!
These kilts had colorful striped going up and down, and across.
In the 1700's and early 1800's, the colors of the striped had no special
meaning. Men sometimes owned kilts in several different colors.
But later the colors became important to the Scottish families.
By about 1850, most families had their kilts. For example, men form the
Campbell family had kilts with green, yellow, and blue stripes.
No other family used stripes with same exact color pattern.
These colors and the size of the stripes are called tartan.
The wearing of tartan became common in the Highlands of Scotland.
Today you will see different tartans all over Scotland.
There are tartan carpets and curtains, tablecloths and napkins,
book covers and bagpipes, socks and hats, shirts and dolls, and of course,
kilt. In other words, you will see tartan everywhere you go in Scotland!
You will also hear the strange but beautiful sounds of the bagpipe,
a musical instrument unique to Scotland. No Scottish festival would be
complete without bagpipe music. Playing the bagpipe demands great skill
and much practice. You also need a large space because the music
from a bagpipe can be very loud. The bagpipe consists of one bass pipe
and two tenor pipes, as well as a blow pipe with a mouthpiece.
There is also a pipe with finger holes upon which different notes are made.
These pipes are attached to a large bag of sheepskin or cowhide which the
player fills with air before beginning to play music. This supply of air
produces the typical, unbroken sound that is unique to the bagpipe.
While these pipes were once made of straw, today hardwoods are used.
You will see many pipes decorated with plastic, ivory, or silver.
Many pipes will last forever but the bag itself has to be replaced
every two or three years because it loses its shape trough regular use.
Haggis is a Scottish dish unlike anything you have eaten before!
Haggis is made from the heart, liver, and lungs of a sheep or calf.
This is mixed with oatmeal, fat, and spices. The mixture is boiled in
the stomach lining of the animal. It is commonly served with hot potatoes
on the side. In the same way that we serve songpyeon during Chuseok,
haggis is served during two important Scottish festivals.
Burns' Night(Junuary 25) is an especially important celebration,
as it is the birthday of Robert Burns, Scotland's most famous poet.
Hogmanay(December 31) is another important festival celebrating the coming
of the new year. At both festivals, a special meal of haggis and potatoes
is served along with whisky.
On Burns' Night, the haggis is carried into the dining room behind
a bagpiper wearing traditional dress. He then read a poem written
especially for the haggis!
Many people think that Scotland has always been a part of England.
In fact, Scotland was an independent country until the 18th century.
In 1707, after many wars, the English succeeded at last in making
Scotland part of England. The Scottish people, however, are very proud of
their history and culture.
At any Scottish parade you will see soldiers wearing kilts and marching
to the music of bagpipes. Scottish soldiers still guard the Edinburgh
Castle, and the royal flag of Scotland still flies over the castle walls.
Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, is the center of government and business.
Many people who have visited this city consider it to be one of the most
beautiful cities in Europe. It is surrounded by hills from which you can
get a wonderful view of the sea.
In the center of Edinburgh is Edinburgh Castle, which was built almost
a thousand years ago. And old Scottish guide dressed in a kilt will gladly
take you through its many dark hallways. Wherever you stay in Scotland,
whether in Edinburgh or the countryside, you will enjoy the beautiful
scenery and rich traditions. And you will see for yourself why everyone
says that Scotland is so unique.
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