Customs and Traditions

Around the world people should know that every country owns a rich culture. Scotland is a good example, because it is one of the most attractive places in Europe today. This old country has a combination of ancient and modern traditions. When we hear the word “tradition”, the first topics that come to our minds are the following: values, beliefs, customs, and cultural expressions. Highlands Games, The Cowal Highland Gathering are examples of the most relevant Scottish celebrations. Since about one thousand years ago, Scotland enjoys its traditions and they are not exposed in a museum, because they are in a constant growth and development for the same population.  Scottish celebrations has many similarities with the others countries. But, what is the difference between Scottish traditions and other countries? What is the role of people in these traditions?

      Scottish people have a stubborn and tenacious behavior, which is characterized by a strong sense of identity and membership to its country. Although, the first time they may seem to be unsociable and closed-minded people, by nature the Scots are very tolerant, although, they consider that to shout, to speak out in public places is part of an inacceptable attitude. In the other side, for some Scots the customs and traditions are very important and are marked every year in their calendar.

     The first one is St Andrew’s Day which is celebrated on 30^th November. St Andrew’s Day is a traditional celebration, where young women pray to St. Andrew for a husband and then make a wish and look for a sign that they wish and prayers were heard. In the same day, the sign can be seen by throwing a shoe at a door and the toe of the shoe is pointed in the direction of the exit, then she would be married within the year and be leaving her parents’ home. Another sign or clue could be found by peeling an entire apple without breaking the peel. Then throw the peel over her shoulder to see if the peel formed a letter of the alphabet which might suggest the name of her future groom. In comparison with Chile, the celebrations have a religious meaning, because these are focused in spiritual aspects. For example, the celebration of “Our Lady of Mt. Carmel” is characterized by devotees, who give thanks for the help that they received about health, work, and family issues. These thanks are expressed through prayers, offerings, and sometimes pilgrimages. But, the most important event of this festivity is the Tirana Celebration, which people do a caravan and dance to the rhythm of the music.   

     The second one is Christmas celebration, which is very similar to Christmas throughout the world. On 25^thDecember, people sometimes make big bonfires and dance around them to the playing of bagpipes. Bannock cakes made of oatmeal are traditionally eaten at Christmas. Of course one thing that a traditional Scottish Christmas has with the rest of the UK is that normally at 3.00pm on the television is the recording of the Queen's Speech.

In the legendary country, Christmas had traditionally been celebrated very quietly, because the Church of Scotland, the Presbyterian Church, has never placed any great emphasis on the Christmas festival, However, the Scots are members of the Church of England or other churches generally celebrate Christmas in the same way as the English people disapproved of Christmas for they believed that there was too much riotous festivity that went on. Nowadays these things are held at Hogmanay, but they do celebrate Christmas with some very interesting customs. In Chile, we have the same traditions but one different aspect is that in our country the president does not give any kind of message, because population celebrates normally with their family, typical dinner, etc.

     Other important celebrations are Hogmanay and New Year. The Scottish people have their big celebrations on New Year's Day, called Hogmanay. A long time ago there is a superstition that it is bad luck for the fire to go out on Christmas Eve, since it is at this time that the elves are abroad and only a raging fire will keep them from coming down the chimney.

     Foods such as three cornered biscuits called Hogmanays are eaten. Other foods that are special at this time of year are wine, cordials, cheese, bread, shortbread, oatcake, currant loaf and scones. The Scots prepare for the New Year by cleaning their houses. This was believed to have been a purification ritual.

     In Scotland an old tradition that still is relevant today is that of the first footer which is said, that whoever the first person to set foot into your home on New Year's Day decided the family's luck for the rest of the year. This was based on the belief in the magic power of beginnings. The start of the New Year controlled its future course. In comparison with Scotland, Chile does not have tradition about the first person who enters the house after midnight will be indicates the good or bad look. The Chilean traditions are as superstitions. For example: to eat twelve grapes to have a lucky year, also to wear yellow underwear to find a couple, and to put a ring into a glass to have money. 

     The last one is Easter Day. Easter Day is a festival that marks the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is observed throughout the world with solemnity.   Easter traditions in Scotland include the age-old custom of painting on an egg and rolling it down the hill and lighting up huge fires. These also follow other conventional approaches of egg hunt and decoration contests. Scotland Easter traditions offer a blend of fun activities and religious offerings. The fun activities present the kids an excellent opportunity to enjoy the festival. During the festival, you can plan a break at the city of Edinburgh. The city observes major celebrations during the season with egg hunts and other events related to the festival. In the other hand, Scottish Easter Day has many similarities with Chilean celebration, because this date is divided in two parts. One is the religious commemoration and the other is the childhood celebration, with a fantasy about a rabbit, which leaves chocolate eggs in children’s houses.

     As we mentioned above, the traditions and customs form an important role in our lives, because they show parts from the entity of a nation. There are many similarities between Scottish traditions with the other countries, but the same people make the difference, because Scots feel and enjoy the celebration in a unique way. The Scottish culture reinvents its traditions through of same people with new celebration such as Film Festival, and Year of Creative Scotland, where people go to enjoy its ancient and modern traditions through dance, sing, theatre, games, etc. Every country has its own traditions, which make it unique, but the people around the world should know it. The best option would be that someday you could visit this magnificent old country.