SCOTTISH CUSTOMS

◦ Highland Games
One of Scotland’s greatest sporting traditions is the Highland games.
◦ Haggis hurling
Originally it was invented as more of a practical joke by Robin Dunseath for the 1977
Gathering of the Clans in Edinburgh, and then used to raise funds for charity at the

What makes
Highland Games. It has since become a professional sport and there are strict rules to
which competitors must adhere to qualify. The idea behind the competition comes
from tales of 17th-century women tossing haggis across the river to their husbands as
they worked the fields, saving themselves the time of finding a crossing point. The

Scotland husbands would have to catch the cooked haggis in the front apron of their kilts so it
didn’t fall to the floor and get dirty. For the game, the haggis must be made
traditionally and is judged on the basis of distance and accuracy of the hurl. The

unique from the haggis skin must remain intact and be fit to eat after landing.
◦ The iconic tartan and kilts

rest of the Scottish kilts, known as ‘The National Dress of Scotland’, have deep cultural
and historical roots and are a sacred symbol of patriotism and honour for a true
Scotsman.

country? ◦ The music of the bagpipes

The bagpipes consist of a bag, usually made of sheep or elk skin, filled with air,
then pressed by the arm to push air through three pipes which rise out of the
instrument.
◦ Experience of hogmanay
Hogmanay is an important part of the Scottish calendar, occurring as part of the
New Year's Eve celebrations. Although many of the old Hogmanay traditions
have now disappeared, some of the unique customs have been carried through
the generations and remain part of the celebrations today.
Scottish Clothes
Tartan
is a patterned cloth consisting of criss-crossed, horizontal
and vertical bands in multiple colors. Tartans originated in
woven wool, but now they are made in many other
materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland;
Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns.
 ◦ Tartan has an ancient history.  The earliest known tartan in Scotland
can be dated to the third or fourth century AD.  In other parts of the
world, tartan cloth has been found dating to approximately 3000
BC.  Virtually everywhere there was woven cloth, people created
tartan designs.  Yet only in Scotland have they been given such
cultural significance.  Why? Originally, tartan designs had no names,
and no symbolic meaning.  All tartan cloth was hand woven, and
usually supplied locally.  While it may have been true that certain
Tartan -  short colors or pattern motifs were more common in some areas than
others, no regulated or defined "clan tartan" system ever existed. 

history
Tartan, in general, however came to be extremely popular in Scottish
Highland culture.  So much so that by the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries, tartan clothing is seen to be characteristic of
Highland dress. Tartan was so identified with the Highland Gael that
after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the British government, in the
Act of Proscription, forbade the wearing of tartan (among other
things) in the Highlands, in an attempt to suppress the rebellious
Scottish culture. 
 Kilt – short history
◦ is a type of knee-length non-bifurcated short dress with pleats at
the back.
◦ originating in the traditional dress of Gaelic men and boys in
the Scottish Highlands. It is first recorded in the 16th century as
the great kilt, a full-length garment whose upper half could be
worn as a cloak. The small kilt or modern kilt emerged in the
18th century, and is essentially the bottom half of the great kilt.
Since the 19th century, it has become associated with the wider
culture of Scotland, and more broadly with Gaelic or
Celtic heritage. It is most often made of woollen cloth in a
tartan pattern.
Sporran – short history
◦ a traditional part of male Scottish Highland dress, is a pouch that
performs the same function as pockets on the pocketless kilt. Made of
leather or fur, the ornamentation of the sporran is chosen to complement
the formality of dress worn with it. The sporran is worn on a leather
strap or chain, conventionally positioned in front of the groin of the
wearer.
◦ originating in the Scottish Islands, perhaps even Ireland, our
sporran makers site the origin of the sporran as a bag to keep the hunger
at bay. A pouch that would have been used for storing food, probably
oats or similar when people were away from home for long periods or
long journeys.
Highlands games
◦ are events held in spring and summer in Scotland and other
countries with a large Scottish diaspora, as a way of celebrating
Scottish and Celtic culture, especially that of the Scottish
Highlands. Certain aspects of the games are so well known as to
have become emblematic of Scotland, such as the bagpipes, the
kilt, and the heavy events, especially the caber toss. While
centred on competitions in piping and drumming, dancing, and
Scottish heavy athletics, the games also include entertainment
and exhibits related to other aspects of Scottish and Gaelic
cultures.
 Music: Bagpipes
◦ a woodwind instrument using enclosed reeds fed from a
constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. The
Scottish Great Highland bagpipes are the best known
examples in the Anglophone world, but people have
played bagpipes for centuries throughout large parts
of Europe, Anatolia, the Caucasus, Northern
Africa, Western Asia, and around the Persian Gulf.
 Traditional Scottish Food

◦ Known for its rich history and diverse food culture, Scotland has much to offer when it comes to
traditional and delicious meals. From savory Scottish porridge, to the iconic national dish of Haggis,
Scotland offers a culinary cuisine that is unique among its European counterparts. With ingredients like
fresh produce and high quality meats, below are five different kinds of traditional Scottish foods that will
be worth trying during your vacation. 
Haggis 
◦ Scotland’s iconic national dish known as
haggis consists of sausage meat made from
the innards of the sheep mixed with onions,
oatmeal, suet, stock, dried herbs and other
seasonings. These ingredients are combined
and then boiled inside the lining of a sheep's
stomach. While this may not sound
appetizing, if you’re feeling adventurous
during your trip to Scotland, the delicious
Haggis will leave you feeling full and
satisfied. 
Scotch Pies 
◦ Small but delicious, Scotch pies are delicious
double-crusted meat pies that originated in
Scotland. Filled with minced mutton or other
types of meat, these savory pies can be served
hot or cold, and are baked fresh at Scottish
takeaway restaurants or bakeries around the
country. Since 1999, the Scottish Bakers trade
association has held a World Scotch Pie
Championship every year, where people from
all over the world can compete to win the
iconic Scotch pie trophy. 
Cullen Skink
◦ Originating in the northeastern part of
Scotland in a small village named Cullen, this
creamy smoked fish soup is another
traditional Scottish dish. Cullen skink
consists of smoked haddock, cream, potatoes,
and onions, and is typically served with a side
of toasted bread. While it originated as a local
specialty of Cullen, you can find this popular
soup on Scottish menus nationwide. 
Traditional
Scottish Tablet 
◦ This small sweet snack is made with sugar,
condensed milk, and butter, which is then
crystallized creating small pieces of tasty
semi-hard candy. Just as sweet as fudge,
although not as soft, this delectable
confection is often flavored with vanilla or
whiskey, and can be found in shops all over
Scotland. For those with a sweet tooth,
traditional Scottish tablet will be sure to
satisfy your craving.  
Neeps and
Tatties 
◦ Often accompanying the national dish of
haggis, neeps and tatties are made from root
vegetables that have been boiled and mashed
into two delicious side dishes. When served
alongside Haggis, the meal in its entirety is
called a “Burns supper”. Healthy and
delicious, neeps and tatties is just another
name for potatoes and turnips, and can be
found featured in many different kinds of
Scottish dishes. 
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR Eliza Kwiatkowska,
filologia angielska.

TIME.