Each culture has its own rules and norms of behavior, customs and traditions, often not similar to each other, but they identify a person as part of the nation.
The population of Scotland is noticeably different from all other subjects of the English crown. Despite their small number, according to statistics for 2016, a little more than five million people live in Scotland (this is two times less than in Moscow), the Scots manage to maintain their identity and even turned it into a kind of brand. This is especially evident in the fashion world, where Scottish tartan (a national check that defines a Scot as an adherent of a particular clan) has been a favorite for several years.
Mentality
Despite their apparent cordiality, the population of Scotland is somewhat closed, harsh, stubborn, stingy and does not like strangers. The latter can be justified by the fact that the Scots, like their neighbors the Welsh, English and Irish, are islanders, which means that they have a slightly different temperament than those who live on the mainland.
If for the population of the mainland the visit of a neighbor was a common thing, then it was necessary to get to the island, and most often strangers did not sail in peace. Constantly defending their landboth from the sea and from the closest neighbors, the British (namely, they were the main headache of the Scots), and formed the national character of the descendants of the ancient Picts.
A bit of history
The settlement of the territory of modern Scotland began with the ancient Picts. It was they who served as the progenitors of modern Scottish society. Initially, they were called Iberians, and only with the advent of the Celts on the island did the name "Picts" appear. Their habitat was the north of the island, the part that is today called Scotland. The Scots (ancestors of the Irish) lived in the west, the territory of England was occupied by the Britons, later driven out by the Anglo-Saxons.
In the 9th century, the Picts and Scots united against the Vikings formed a kingdom called Scotia. But the modern name "Scotland" appeared only a couple of centuries later, in the 11th century.
Galik
Or whatever you call it, Gaelic. The national language that the population of Scotland uses is the main one along with English. Although today you can meet pure Gaelic only in deep Scottish villages. The bulk of the population speaks something between English and Gaelic (Scottish English). Therefore, understanding the language of Scotland is sometimes difficult even for the closest neighbors, the British.
The Gaelic language appeared thanks to the Irish, displacing Pictish and Old English. But he didn't last long either. Already in the 15th century, the population of Scotland began to speak Scottish English. Development of homogeneityThe language was partly served by cities that began to appear as early as the 11th century.
Cities of Scotland
Scottish cities, like most European cities, have a "spider" network of streets and roads. Most often they originated around the castle of some feudal lord. At first, these were temporary settlements consisting of the workers who built the castle and their families. Then the population increased, and small villages already appeared. And when the construction was completed and the owner moved to the castle (or fortress), cities were formed.
The occupation of the owner of the land often determined the fate of the city. So, if the feudal lord chose the seashore as a place for his house, then the city became a port, and already his main income depended on the catch.
Scottish towns, located in the mountains, villages, farms are still fed from land and livestock. The legendary kilt made of Scottish sheep wool has been and remains the main pride of the population. It is akin to our Orenburg scarf. Maybe not as thin and dainty, but certainly warm and durable.
And not a single youth party can do without Scotch whiskey (whisky). There is also a second spelling of this whiskey drink - this is the Irish version, which differs not only in spelling, but also in taste. Irish whiskey is pure, without impurities. It was invented by Irish immigrants who arrived in the US and missed their home very much. Scottish is slightly peaty. It was on it from ancient times that this drink was brewed. Therefore, for any Scot, whiskey is more than just a drink, it isconnection to his story.
Who rules Caledonia
It is a well-known fact that the Scots have defended their lands for many centuries and waged war both with each other and with the British. The wars for Scottish independence, or rather two wars, were fought from the end of the 13th to the middle of the 14th century. The results were successful, because until the 17th century Scotland remained independent. And only in 1603 there was a union of the Scottish and English crowns. So today the Queen of Scots is Elizabeth II - the oldest monarch in the history of Britain. Of course, Scotland had had female rulers before that, but none of them ruled the country for as long as Elizabeth.
