Scotland is a country that lives with its green nature, its harsh and rainy climate when compared to the Britain average and its historical & cultural heritage. With its struggle for independence that has been going on for years, Scotland has been an inspiration for many and influenced people with its bagpipe which is one of the most beautiful voices of the music and its famous whiskeys. Especially, most of us learnt about Scotland and its independence struggle with the movie “Braveheart” which has touched our hearts. It would not be wrong to say that William Wallace, whose name is well-known in the history and has been the subject for many movies, is one of the first reasons for this country to be known and loved. Of course, Scotland is not a country only known for those. We can say that most people like this country because it is the first thing that comes to mind when one says "Whiskey". Besides this, with its natural and historical beauties, the country has attracted many people. Edinburgh, as it is the capital and the most-known tourist attraction of the country and Glasgow as the biggest city in the country, are only a few of the must-visit places. There are direct flights to Scotland. Edinburgh Airport (EDI), Glasgow International Airport (GLA) or Aberdeen Airport may be used for an easy access to the country. Besides this, if you want to go to Scotland via London, you can find many different domestic flights as well as Britrail trains which connect Scottish Railways and British Railways. This option is cheaper than using an airline, and during your journey, you can enjoy being alone with unique, beautiful scenes. Because Scotland is a country that greens and seas are seen very often, and because it is located in the north and this causes a cold climate in the country, is a perfect place for whiskeys to age. Whiskeys are aging slowly by being kept in barrels for long years. This makes the Scottish whiskey one of the bests in the world.
Scotland with its mountains and such everywhere
Northern part of the British Island... A cold, 77.900 km2 wide area that consists the 32% of the Great Britain... A strange piece of land that is full of mountains, is between the Northern Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and is impossible to build highways without using tunnels. With its capital Edinburgh and its soil that only 1.9% of the water resources can be obtained but on the other hand, with its mesmerizing scenes, Scotland is a green, magnetizing world.
Bagpipes and plaid skirts are the first things that comes to one’s mind when they hear Scotland. Besides this musical instrument that gives the feeling that it is copied from “Tulum” of the Black Sea region, there is a deep cultural structure in Scotland. With Edinburgh University, that is known as the 9th best university of the world, Whiskey is also a culture on its own and is a national heritage. Scottish meal named “Haggis” is also another cultural mosaic. Scottich literature is also rooted back in the 13th century poems.
History of the Scotland
Culture of the Scottish is rooted back in the ancient history, in their ancestors Celtics. Celtic tribes that lived in Central Europe in the Bronze age migrated through different parts of Europe because of climate changes and famine. Among those Celtic tribes, there are Galatians, Bretons, Eires, Albas and such nations. Galatians spread through almost the whole Europe and lived in areas such as Wales, Galicia and Gallipoli. Eires became the ancestors of today’s Irish people. Bretons started to live in Northern France. Albas and the ones who define themselves as “only Celtics” are the ancestors of the Scottish people today. Those tribes who came to the Northern Britain have built their own civilizations in a short time even with the cold climate. Throughout the time, they have struggled against occupants such as Saxons, Vikings and Romans and faced the threat of genocide, and they had finally had to defend themselves against British, which they were going to be hostiles for centuries. This country that we call Scotland has been present with the independence struggle since the beginning of the history. Officially, the presence of a Scottish area is accepted since 843, and except short time periods, British had the rule over this area.
The Testing of Scottish with British
Even today, with referendums or lobbies, Scotland tries to remove the British pressure on itself, and this is just because of the beautiful nature of the country. Romans from one side, Saxons from another and Vikings from another could not be able to be the obstacle for the freedom of that beautiful blue flag with white stripes, but the nearest neighbour became the trouble for the country! Throughout the time, Scottish people have the feeling of hostility towards the British because of the wars and the pressure, and today, they reflect this in ironic messages. And here we are, just exaggerating our 8-0 defeats to the British, the suffering of Scottish is really different...
The Lion in Everyone’s Hearts: William Wallace
The Scottish history cannot be told without giving reference to this brave man who has dedicated himself to the freedom of the Scottish people and getting a revenge from the British. As a hero which was born in 1272, Wallace could not respond the British pressure in his teenager years, even if he was angry from the within. Until his one and only love, Marion Bardifute got killed by the British... Wallace has gone for the revenge of his love and his people, led many armies that defeated British in the battlefields many times and received the “Protector of the Scotland” title. Besides all those achievements, Wallace got betrayed by the noble Scottish people, and got executed in England in 1305. This execution did end Wallace’s life, but also did fire up the independence fire in the minds of Scottish people. Even if they got independent after Wallace was dead, Scottish are still struggling fot their independence.
Scotland With Its Legends
Wallace is a legend on his own, but Scotland is also the hometown for many other legends. Wizard Merlin that is claimed is the one who helped the Legendary King Arthur is thought as a Celtic Pagan who has Scottish roots. Also, it is claimed that the roots of the Robin Hood story is also lies back in the Scottish popular heroes. Another legendary character, Rob Roy, is also Scottish. But the most well-known legend it the Loch Ness Monster. The monster that is claimed to be seen in the Loch Ness Lake of Scotland still is a mistery.
Skirts that the Scottish men wear have always been a popular culture thing. Scottish skirts are traditional clothes and are the part of an official costume that is complete with long socks and jackets.
Scottish Language
Even if nearly everyone in Scotland speaks English, 30% of the people know Scottish and Scottish German. Besides the Scottish that is rooted back at the Celtic language, 11% of the population can speak Welsh, also rooted back in Celtic.
Scottish Population
Scottish population is nearly 5.5 million today, and they only consist the 8.4% of the whole Great Britain. As a society that gets older day by day, only the 16% of the society is 15 years or younger today.
The Land that Struggle for Independence is the Tradition, Scotland
Scottish people had a referendum in 1978, and they proved that they want independence with gaining the 51% of the votes. However, this referendum was not only conducted by Scotland but also for Wales, and just because Welsh people did not want to secede from the Britain with gaining the 79% of the votes, the dreams of Scottish people just shattered.
Scotland With Its Roads
Even if it has been centuries since the Romans have put stones on the roads that the Scottish ancestors Celtics have drawn, it is still a matter of fun for Scottish people that they are still trying to cut corners.
Cold Country Scotland
Even when our brain veins just crack because of the heat in July and August in Turkey, with its weather that is generally around 15-20 degrees, the climate settings are also very unique in the lands of influenza, Scotland.
Higher Scotland Lower Scotland
Within the society in Scotland, people call others as “Highlanders” and “Lowlanders”, as two different groups. This logic is the same with our “Higher Ayranci” and “Lower Ayranci” logic. People who live in mountainous areas are known as Highlanders, there are even movies made for them. Of course, the subject of the movie is known by the ones who are interested, it is not related with the thing that we mentioned.
