Cultural Beliefs of Scotland - Coursework Example

Cultural Beliefs of Scotland Cultural Beliefs of Scotland According to the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Cultureis what people know, believe in and how they behave. This relies on the ability to learn and pass knowledge to future generations. Culture influences how community communicates. Every culture has its own unique beliefs about things such as health, treatment, sports, food and other factors. The writer will explain the culture and beliefs of the Scottish people. Scotland is a section of the UK. For approximately one thousand years, Scotland has passed on its culture to successive generations. This has happened since the 12th century in the days of the earliest clans. Scottish culture is not stagnant. Rather, it is alive, vibrant and thriving. Each successive generation leaves its mark on the culture (Gardiner, 2005). Food is very important in Scotland (Gardiner, 2005). At meal times, they socialize and communicate. This forms greater bonds between Scottish people. It enhances national unity. The Scottish people are known for the piper on the shortbread tin. The sight of hundreds of pipes skirling in harmony is breath-taking. This cultural practice is done every August in Glasgow Green and Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Scottish people also have a food culture. There is a stereotype of traditional Scottish fare including haggis, porridge and whisky. This has changed through beef, venison and seafood. This has taken Scottish food culture to a whole new level. The Scottish kilt is coming back on the catwalk. Designers such as Jean Paul Gautier, Vivienne Westwood and Jonathan Saunders from Glasgow are responsible for this. Traditional Scottish dress is going to avenues that have never been imagined. The Burns Supper, Hogmanay and St Andrews Day celebrations are part of the traditional Scottish culture. "Auld Lang Syne" is from Scotland. It is a traditional classic song. This song follows the song called "Happy Birthday" in popularity (Bell, 2004). The heroes who fought for Scotlands freedom made Scottish proud of their sovereignty. They are proud of the symbols of their freedom. Scottish culture has been influenced by a history of courageous influential people. Scottish imagery growing Wars of Independence (1296-1371) churned out national heroes like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. National symbols such as the Scottish thistle, the iron rampant and the St Andrews cross (Saltire) on the national flag have origins in that period. Other symbols that remind the Scots of their origin are their clan tartans and bagpipes. Such imagery was added into Scottish modern martial law via the Highland regiments in the British Army (Craig, 2009). Scotland also has Lowland Protestant Political history. This has been emphasised in history since the Reformation, based on the national Presbyterian Church. Pictures of national covenants from the 17th century are often invoked. This reminds the Protestants of what happened when their religious affairs were interfered with in Scotland. The effect this has on communication styles and patterns is that the Scottish people usually avoid discriminating on the basis of faith. This boosts religious integration even further (Gardiner, 2005). The triumph of the Scottish national football team, the exhilarating landscape brings a lot of pride to the Scottish people. Since 1707, Scotland has been shaped by Calvinist Protestantism. There are other aspects such as Scottish participation in the British Empire, a concoction of pride and shame over cultural and demographic destruction of the highlands. Scotland is currently experiencing a feeling of pride for the national working class. This means that Scotland has weakening connections with the British Empire and the Commonwealth. Therefore, Scotland has a greater orientation to the greater European framework. Thus, the Scottish people think and refer to themselves as Europeans. Being part of a larger trade union means that it has the opportunity to grow further than when it works individually (Breslaw, 2008). The cultural tension between Scottish Catholics and Protestants still exists. Feuds also exist between the Highlanders and the Lowlanders. Over the course of Scottish history, the Labour Party has played a huge role in integrating Protestants and Catholics. There are also ethnic tensions between the Scottish and English people in some areas over employment and shelter. Non-white Scots also meet racism. Communication between these groups has not been perfect. However, the frequency of this hatred has reduced a lot from the olden days (Bell, 2004). Scotland still uses Scots Law, which is their own legal system. It is based on Roman law that contains both civil and common law. Scots Law is different from English Law. This gives the Scottish people a sense of identity. Moreover, some areas in Scotland such as Orkney and Shetland formerly used regional law systems called Udall Law. These laws make the Scottish feel unique. They can make a verdict on any case within their jurisdiction without depending on foreign legal advice. The Bank of England is the main bank in the UK. However, three Scottish banks still issue their own bank notes. This means that even though Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, it still maintains its bank culture. This reminds the Scottish people that they are still Scottish at heart. Scotland is the hub of golf. It is well known for its great golf courses. Scottish people are famous for their Highland Games. A well-known game played in Scotland is similar to Irelands hurling. Both are stick games. Such games give the Scottish people a sense of belonging (Gardiner, 2005). The Scottish people also have literary culture. When the Victorian Age ended, there were several authors. Examples are Robert Louis Stevenson and Arthur Conan Doyle. Scottish Renaissance occurred in the 20th century. This period marked a dramatic increase in Scottish literature. The flag-bearer in this area was Scottish writer Hugh MacDiarmid. He attempted to reinstate the Scots language to be used as a vehicle for serious literature (Bell, 2004). The earliest examples of Scottish art involved carving stone balls during the Neolithic Age. The Renaissance had a huge influence on stone carving and painting from the 15th century. The Royal Scottish Academy of Art was formed in 1826. The notable portrait painters of this period were Andrew Geddes and David Willkie. William Dyce was also among the significant people in art education in the UK (Bell, 2004). Scottish media are quite separate from the rest of the UK. Scotland has various national newspapers like the Daily Research, the Broadsheet, the Herald, the Scotsman and Sunday Mail. Others include the Sunday Post, the Sunday Herald and Scotland on Sunday. These newspapers give the Scottish people local as well as international news. By reading most of the above collection of newspapers, Scottish people keep in touch with one another. Information concerning their country reaches them. Scotland has a strong philosophy. One of the major philosophies was Duns Scotus, which was one of the main medieval scholastics. Scotland has been the home of the intellectuals for a long time. These include Francis Hutdeson, David Hume and Adam Smith. Aberdeen, in Scotland, produced Thomas Reid, another famous intellectual. These people have contributed enormously to the knowledge of humanity of various subjects such as economics in the case of Adam Smith (Harris, 2010). Scotland also has a folklore culture. It is said that Halloween is the most celebrated holiday in Scotland. There are also claims that the name Halloween is the short form of the Scottish word All-Hallows-Eve Conclusion In conclusion, culture is what people believe in, know and how they behave. Scotland is a country with numerous cultural beliefs. These cultures have been passed on to subsequent generations and cohorts over the course of thousands of years. Food, sports, religion, money, law and literature are important aspects of Scottish culture. These have shaped the identity of the Scottish people such that they have a sense of belonging. From the days of the clans in the 12th century, through the time of William Wallace and the Renaissance, Scotland has seen a remarkable growth in its culture. Every generation in Scotland leaves a mark on the culture. As Scottish culture continues to evolve and thrive, humans can learn a lot from it. Its vibrancies are fascinating. References Bell, E. (2004). Scotland in theory: reflections on culture & literature. Amsterdam: Rodopi. Breslaw, E. G. (2008). Dr. Alexander Hamilton and provincial America: expanding the orbit of Scottish culture. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. Craig, C. (2009). Intending Scotland: explorations in Scottish culture since the Enlightenment. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Gardiner, M. (2005). Modern Scottish culture. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Harris, J. A. (2010). Introduction: The Place of the Ancients in the Moral Philosophy of the Scottish Enlightenment. Journal of Scottish Philosophy, 8(1), 1-11. Read More