Scotland

Scotland is one of four constituent nations which form the United Kingdom (the other three are England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Scotland forms the northern part of the island of Great Britain. His capital is Edinburgh with 449.020 residents.
Scotland is 31,510 sq. miles in area; it is 274 miles long from North to South and varies in breadth between 24 and 154 miles. An active map of Scotland is available, which details Scotland's major cities.
The official language is English, although Gaelic is spoken, primarily in the North and West of Scotland. The Scots language (which has many similarities to English, but also draws on French and Gaelic) is also spoken. Whereas Gaelic is the language of the Highlands & Islands, Scots is the language of the Lowlands.
The national flower is the thistle, purple flower, although the heather which covers significant moorland areas is also closely associated with the country, providing peat for the fire and, along with lichens, dyes for tartan. And the other national emblem is: since the days of King Alexander II, dating back to the thirteenth century, a red lion on a yellow field has been the Royal Arms of Scotland.
Today Scothland's growing population of over five million is a diverse fusion of cultures. It's little wonder that Scotland atracts so many visitors from all over the world, with its magnificent scenery; it is classed as one of Europe's remaining unspoilt areas.

More things about Scotland:

- Scottish tartan:

Tartan is a distinctive symbol of Scotland and Scottish Culture. Celts have worn striped and checked material for thousands of years, it is thought the word 'Tartan' may have derived from the old French word 'tartaine' meaning a type of material or cloth.
The earliest tartans were made of, light brown, dark brown and white wool from native sheep. The oldest preserved Scottish tartan is a fragment of these colours known as 'the Falkirk Tartan'.

- Scottish bagpipes:

Scottish bagpipes are of two main kinds: Great, or Highland, pipes and bellows-blown pipes, of which there are several varieties. The Highland bagpipe is the better known of the two. It has a double-reed chanter, which plays the melody, and three single-reed drones. The piper blows into a blowpipe to inflate a cloth-covered bag made of leather or of synthetic material. The bag acts as a reservoir of air to give the piper an uninterrupted flow of air with which to create a continuous sound. Bagpipes are an ancient instrument and exist in many cultures. In Scotland, they have been documented for more than 600 years.

- Scottish Whisky:

Whisky is not only the world's most consistently successful and popular drink, it is also one of the oldest having been around in one form or another since the first millennium. However, documentary records only commence in Scotland in 1494 when it was distilled as a spirit known as aqua vitae. Its growth since then has been better detailed and over the last 500 years a complete lexicon has developed in line with whisky's increasing sophistication and worldwide popularity. There are three types of Whisky: blanded, malt and unleaded.

History of Scotland

Scotland only existed in British history when she was at war with England. At all other times she fades into the Scotch mist to come alive again when the British (English) needed a war.

Like many places in Europe Scotland was invaded by the Romans and Sir Harry Lauder's famous song "Roman in the Gloamin" is a record of this, (it is now available on CD too) Unlike other countries they did not succeed and decided to honour the bravery of natives by preserving their country's natural beauty and to help keep the English out by building two huge big walls across the A1, M74 and the M6.

Scotland faded into the mists of history to re-emerge with a system of government built around the family or clan. But families are famous for falling out, so this system of government became know as the 'feuding system'. The feuding became so bad that the wearing of tartan, identifying each individual as a member of a particular clan was banned for 36 years. Scots complained bitterly and where eventually allowed to put their clothes back on.

Scotland was built by King Kenneth Mac Alpine (that's why Scots are all called ken) who dropped a big stone from a place called Scone. Thus making the Dropped Scone of Stone and monarchs are still crowned on it today. (Or are they?????)

After him came a great many James' and a woman called Mary (she married a dolphin) and her son took on duel registration but was only ever referred to in books by his English registration number.

As we are now up to and past the Union of the Crowns/ Parliament Scotland has disappeared again into the mists. She will remerge at some date in the future with the dissolution of this Union.

An important, historic scottish character

William Wallace (c1270 - 1305)
William Wallace is one of Scotland's greatest national heroes, undisputed leader of the Scottish resistance forces during the first years of the long and ultimately successful struggle to free Scotland from English rule at the end of the 13th Century.