ScottishMissionary.org - [MissionInfo.php] Scotland Edinburgh Mission

*Greetings*	A handshake is a common introductory greeting for the people, but it is used less often than in North America. Handshakes are generally light and not aggressive. Standard English greetings such as 'Hello' and 'How do you do?' are common. The Scots are generally more reserved and a bit more formal in their greetings than U.S. citizens, but they are nevertheless friendly. A common greeting among friends is 'Alright?' to which the response is 'Alright.' In the north, 'Fit like?' replaces 'How are you?' among friends. Hugging is not common, even with close friends.
*Visiting*	In Scotland, visits to the home are usually prearranged. Only close friends and family drop by unannounced. Outside of the home, most social interaction takes place in pubs. People go to pubs not only for drinks, but also for meals and socializing. It is quite common for entire families to go to a pub. When hosting visitors, the Scots go out Of their way to make guests feel welcome and comfortable. Refreshments are usually offered, and it is polite to accept them after a couple of weak refusals. When visitors arrive, the television and radio are usually turned off, so as not to distract the conversation. Scots are open and candid in conversation and have a very keen, but subtle, sense of humor. Religion, salary, and (less often) politics are topics to be avoided. It is customary to take a small gift to the hostess when invited to a home. Flowers or chocolates are the most common gifts. Foreign guests should give a souvenir from their country.
*Eating*	Proper table etiquette is important and admired. The continental style of eating is followed, with the fork in the left hand and the knife remaining in the right. Breakfast is generally light, consisting of some kind of cereal and tea. Lunch is a light meal often consisting of sandwiches, soup, and a drink. Called 'tea' (sometimes 'dinner'), the evening meal is the main meal of the day. Desert (either pudding or cake) is often served with a cup of tea in the afternoon. Biscuits (cookies) and pastries are also popular. In restaurants, it is common to tip about 15 percent. It is not common to give tips in pubs.
*Gestures*	It is rude to shout in public. Forming a V with the index and middle fingers and the palm facing inward is vulgar and should be avoided. It is polite for a man to give his seat to a woman on public transportation. Politeness is valued.
*The People*
*General Attitudes*	Scots are proud of their heritage. Indeed, Scotland has produced many of Britain' s most talented people, such as the poet Robert Burns. The people are called Scots, not Scotch, and their ways are Scottish. Scotch is a drink. Those who refer to Scotland as a part of England offend Scots; England and Scotland are distinctly separate parts of the United Kingdom. Indeed, many Scots are considering independence from--or at least great autonomy within--the United Kingdom. Scots are known for their courtesy and their reserve with acquaintances until they get to know them better. Often critical and very independent, the Scottish character has been described as a 'combination of realism and reckless sentiment,' including rashness, moodiness, and the ability to relentlessly persevere. Attitudes differ somewhat between the various regional and class groupings throughout Scotland. The people take pride in their high standard of education and are well informed about international affairs. Therefore, they have little patience with foreigners who demonstrate ignorance of their own country's basic customs and attitudes.
*Personal Appearance*	Popular European fashions are worn in Scotland. However, climate also influences the choice of clothing. Tweed suits and woolen sweaters are popular during the cooler months. Lighter fabrics are more common in the summer. The traditional kilt (not to be called a 'skirt') is often worn by men for formal occasions, and occasionally in other situations. Many women also still wear kilts. The term for underclothing in Scoff and is 'pants.' Men and women wear 'trousers' over 'pants.'
*Population*	Scotland' s population of 5.7 million is found mostly in the crowded industrial cities and towns of central Scotland. Few people live in the ragged highlands of the north. Most of the people are Scots, but there are some Indians, Pakistanis, and Chinese (from Hong Kong) in the larger cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh. Scotland's population accounts for about 10 percent of the total population of the United Kingdom, which also includes England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
*Language*	English is the official language of Scotland. The Scots speak English with a soft, melodic accent. They also use many terms derived from Gaelic (a Celtic language and Scotland' s original tongue) with English to create a rather unique language. For example, the word for dull is dreich. A brae is a hill; a bairn is a baby. As in all English-speaking cultures, the Scots also use certain English idioms and pronunciations unique to their culture. For example, rather than saying 'How's he doing?' a Scot says, 'How's he keeping?' Further, some Gaelic words have been incorporated into Standard English, such as 'slogan' or 'galore,' which are used in other English-speaking countries. The Words 'fanny,' 'bugger,' 'bloody,' and 'suspenders' (call them braces'), should never be used when speaking to a Scot. Foreign visitors should note that a 'fag' is a cigarette, an 'ass' is a donkey, and a 'rubber' is an eraser. Many (about 60,000) of the people that do live in the highlands still speak Gaelic, as do some people on Scotland's offshore islands. In these areas, people are encouraged to study Gaelic. Of course, they also speak English, although Gaelic is their primary language. In those areas, shop and street signs are in Gaelic.
*Religion*	The Church of Scotland (or Presbyterian Church) is the official church, but people may worship as they choose. The world headquarters for the Presbyterian Church are located in Scotland' s capital, Edinburgh. While the Church of Scotland has the most members (up to two million), there are also Roman Catholics, Baptists, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Free Presbyterians, Methodists, and a number of others. Younger Scots, especially in the east, are sometimes more secular and therefore less interested in religion or less influenced by religious traditions.
*Life-Styles*
*The Family*	Early highland families were loyal to their clan, but contemporary clans have relatively little importance in the life of individual family members today. Each clan is still headed by a chieftain, but he is mainly symbolic and has no real authority over the members of the clan. In urban areas, families are small and generally close-knit. Although relatives visit each other often, families are independent from each other. The elderly prefer to stay in their own homes and remain independent as long as possible rather than live with there married children. About half of all families live in rented homes or apartments (fiats).
*Dating & Marriage*	Dating in Scotland is different than in the United States. Relationships are formed and maintained within a social circle, not as separate couples. Rather than dating many different people, Scots date one person at a time. Marriage becomes legal at age 16, but usually occurs in the mid- to late-20s. Marriage customs are much the same as in the United States.
*Diet*	While daily meals are not usually elaborate in Scotland, many Scottish dishes can be complex and exquisite. The normal diet consists of mince and tatties (ground meat and potatoes), fish suppers (fish and chips seasoned with salt and vinegar), stews, beef, lamb, neeps (turnips) and simple vegetables. Haggis are made from ground sheep entrails, mixed with oats and spices, and tied in a sheep's stomach and cooked. They are the national dish. Stovies (coined beef, onions, and potatoes) are also popular. Scots enjoy very sweet desserts such as chocolates and cakes. Whiskey, an important part of the economy, is a common drink, as is beer.
*Business*	Businesses are open generally from 9:00 A.M. to 5:30 or 6:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. Government offices close between 1:00 and 2:00 P.M. and stay open until 5:30 P.M. One day a week, many shops close by 1:00 P.M. Glasgow and Edinburgh are the main centers of business, and major stores often remain open until 8:00 P.M. at least one night a week.
*Recreation*	The most popular organized sport is football (soccer), followed by rugby. Basketball, volleyball, and badminton are played in the high schools. The Scots invented golf in the 1500s and it is still one of their favorite games. Scotland's golf courses are some of the world's best and are spread over the rolling, green countryside. The Highland Games, which resemble track meets, are held in the highlands in the late summer. Popular winter sports include curling and skiing. Curling involves two teams of four players that slide iron 'stones' over ice to reach a target. Television and movies are also favorite leisure activities. Social drinking is common, and there are many lounges and pubs.
*Holidays*	Scotland celebrates many of the United Kingdom's holidays, including New Year's Day, Good Friday, May Day (1 May), Easter, the Queen's Birthday (second Saturday in June), Remembrance Day (closest Sunday to 11 November), Christmas, and Boxing Day (26 December). Virtually everything closes down for Christmas, including restaurants and subway shops. Boxing Day comes from a British tradition in which service workers were given small-boxed gifts the day after Christmas. It is now a day for visiting and relaxing. New Year's Eve is called 'Hog-manay.' It is the biggest holiday of the year. In January, banquets called Burns Suppers are held in honor of the Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Haggis is one of the most common dishes served at these suppers. On varying dates from town to town, Scots also enjoy a Monday spring holiday and autumn holiday.
*Land & Climate*	Scotland is about the same size as South Carolina. It lies north of England on the same island. Both northern and southern Scotland are essentially uplands, while the fertility and mineral wealth of the central region make it the wealthiest and most populated part of Scotland. In the far north are the famous granite highlands. The country's rugged mountains, green valleys (called glens), deep blue Lakes (called lochs), and offshore islands provide beautiful scenery. The most fertile agricultural land lies mainly to the east and in the southern border regions. Scotland has roughly two climate zones between the east and west. The west experiences heavier rains and stronger winds than the east. Throughout the country, however, the climate is generally temperate and wet. Average temperatures vary little between seasons, with the largest average difference between summer and winter being less than 20øF (6øC). Summer temperatures generally range from 60øF ( 15 øC) to 70øF (21øC), while winter temperatures usually remain above freezing.
*History*	The Scots are descendants of Celtic peoples. Scotland's name comes from a colony of Scots (a Celtic people) who came from Ireland in the sixth century and united with the original inhabitants (Picts) in the ninth century. The Scots fought for many years against Vikings from the north and English from the south. Finally, King James I, son of Mary, Queen of Scots (Mary Stuart), came to the English throne and united Scotland and England under one monarchy in 1603. Since that time, Scotland's history has been closely intermingled with England's. In 1707, the Scottish and English parliaments were united by the Act of Union, which founded the constitutional monarchy of the Kingdom of Great Britain. The kingdom became known as theUnited Kingdom in 1801 when Ireland was joined to the union. Scotland shared England' s industrial revolution, the great British Empire that spanned the globe, and the trials of the world wars. Despite its close ties with England and its function in the kingdom, Scotland has remained a distinct political and cultural entity. Actually, local histories of the individual cities and towns tell far more about the people of Scotland than the political history of the United Kingdom. Since 1990, a budding nationalist movement has been gaining momentum in Scotland. A minority believes Scotland should declare independence, but a far greater number think that Scotland should at least have greater control of its own economy and politics. Opinion polls show that most (75 percent) want change. To avert actual independence, some politicians have proposed a separate tax system andgeneral assembly (legislature) for a Scotland that would remain part of the United Kingdom. By most estimates, 1992 elections will determine how serious London needs to be about meeting Scottish demands. Government The United Kingdom's constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state, is a parliamentary system. The House of Lords (with noblemen, life appointees, and Church of England bishops) has little legislative power, although it is the highest judicial body in the land. The House of Commons is elected by the people. The leader of the majority party, appointed by the Queen as Prime Minister, selects a cabinet and runs the government. The current Prime Minister is Tony Blair. Elections are held at least every five years, but they may be held sooner if called for by the Prime Minister. The last parliamentaryElections were in April 1997. Scotland maintains its own legal system, related to but different from that of England. It also has its own police force and other departments that are not directly controlled from London. Economy Agriculture has traditionally been the mainstay of the economy, and now modern machinery makes the land even more productive with less labor. The most important agricultural products include potatoes, vegetables, and grains. Many Scots are employed in fishing, mining, manufacturing, textiles, and shipbuilding. Whiskey is an importantindustry. Several newer industries have also taken hold in Scotland (such as chemicals). The discovery of oil in the North Sea has brought economic growth to the area. Scotland has many fine ports from which the United Kingdom conducts trade. The average annual gross national product (GNP) per capita in the United Kingdom is US$16,070.The currency is the pound sterling.
*Education*	Education is free and compulsory from ages five to sixteen. Scotland' s school system differs from that of other parts of the United Kingdom. The examinations given at the completion of secondary schools are not the same as in England. Both public (called state) schools and private (called public) schools are available in Scotland. Private schools receive some state funding and are subject to some control. There are various vocational schools, as well as eight universities and a number of colleges. University education is free. The universities of St. Andrews, Aberdeen, and Glasgow were founded in the 1400s. The literacy rate is 99 percent. Transportation and Communication Scotland is well linked by international and domestic air services. The railroad also connects most parts of the country, except in the northwest. Most roads are paved and most people own cars. Following the British tradition, traffic moves on the left side of the road. Buses and taxis are common in the cities. The public transportation system is excellent. Telecommunications are well advanced, with international fiber-optic cable links and satellite systems. There are a number of daily newspapers and nearly everyhome has a television.
*Health*	The United Kingdom's National Health Service provides, on the basis of taxation, free medical treatment and many other social services to the people. The individual must pay for only prescriptions and some dental services. Otherwise, the government pays for care.Medical facilities are advanced and life expectancy (73 to 79) is similar to that in the United States. Scotland has a high rate of lung cancer and heart disease. Infant mortality is 7 per 1,000. For the Traveler While a valid passport is necessary, no visa is required of U.S. citizens. No vaccinations are required. Water is safe to drink. Victorian architecture, cultural events, castles, beautiful countryside, the fabled Loch Ness monster, and much more await visitors from all over. For more information, contact the Scottish Tourist Board (23 Ravelston Terrace, Edinburgh EH4 3EU, United Kingdom). Also, a number of travel agencies throughout the United States have been specially trained (through the S.C.O.T.S. program) in travel to Scotland. Ask your travel agent. The British Tourist Authority (40 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019) may also have additional information. The BTA also has offices in Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

Taken from the BYU missionary handout - I think this is pretty old - printed in 1996 !

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