Tradition
"Tradition: the act of transmitting or handing down from one generation to another."
Scotland has been handing down its traditions for close to a thousand years now, since the earliest days of the clans in the twelfth century. But every generation adds the thumbprint of its own culture to the whole. Scottish traditions are not something sterile under glass and steel in a cold museum. They are vibrant, living things, constantly growing and evolving.
The pipes, the haggis and designer kilts
For instance, everybody knows the cliché of the piper on the shortbread tin. How many have experienced the reality of a hundred pipers skirling in deafening unison? This isn't an image from Scotland's past: it happens every August on Glasgow Green.
Or look at fashion. Many people have probably heard that the wearing of tartan was banned in Scotland after the Battle of Culloden, but did you know that tartan only gained worldwide popularity in the 19th century because of Queen Victoria's love of all things Scottish? Or that the kilt is making a comeback on the catwalk as designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood and Glasgow's own Jonathan Saunders take traditional Scottish dress to places the clan chiefs never dreamed of?
Or take food. We all know the stereotypical notions of traditional Scottish fare: haggis and porridge and the legendary deep fried Mars Bar.
Not anymore: Scotland's new elite of super-chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Nick Nairn and Andrew Fairlie are taking the country's incredible natural produce – our beef, venison and seafood – and elevating them to Michelin starred levels.
From the pop charts and Trainspotting to the Gay Gordons
Or music. Scottish band Franz Ferdinand has conquered the globe in the past two years, but did you know that their singer Alex Kapranos came to Glasgow specifically because it was 'the best place in the world to start a band'? Traditional Scottish music is thriving too, but artists like The Battlefield Band and Blazing Fiddles have given a fresh electric twist to the pipes and fiddles that might have had previous generations reaching for the smelling salts!
The Ceilidh is still flourishing, but these days it's likely to have the energy level of something closer to a rock concert! And, speaking of concerts, events like Fatboy Slim's recent Rock Ness extravaganza, and the Celtic Connections and T in the Park festivals, mean that Scotland is now firmly established in the forefront of world music festivals.
Then there are the arts. Nowadays when you speak of Scottish literature or cinema to anyone under thirty they are as likely to think of Trainspotting and Ratcatcher as they are of Waverley and Whisky Galore – although there is perhaps a more of a connection between these books and films than first meets the eye. . . .
For modern artists like Irvine Welsh and Lynne Ramsay embody the same traditional Scottish values that their predecessors Sir Walter Scott and Alexander McKenzie did: those of energy, vitality, wit and humanity: traditions well worth transmitting, well worth handing down to future generations.
February 2007
Preserving a Culture: Growing up on the Shetland Islands Ethel G. Hofman tells us the moving story of her Jewish parents move to Shetland many years ago.
January 2007
Scouts in Scotland Scouts exist in almost every country in the world. We highlight the part played by Scots in the development of scouts and other youth movements.
July 2006
The Pipes Are
Calling . . . The Glasgow International Piping Festival is in July and we learn all about bagpipes and listen to some traditional and modern Scottish pipe music.