Scotland´s Castles

Edinburgh Castle has been involved in many historical conflicts, from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century, up to the Jacobite Rising of 1745, and has been besieged, both successfully and unsuccessfully, on several occasions. From the later 17th century, the castle became a military base, with a large garrison.



Dunbeath Castle stands on a rocky peninsula at Dunbeath in the Highlands of Scotland and is still occupied today. Although a castle has stood here since the 15th century, the present building is of mainly 17th century origin, with 19th century extensions.



Skibo Castle, location for Madonna's wedding to Guy Richie.



Eilean Donan Castle in Dornie in the Highlands of Scotland, is one of Scotland's most photograhed monuments.




Urquhart Castle sits beside Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland, between Fort William and Inverness. Though extensively ruined, it was in its day one of the largest strongholds of medieval Scotland. It is near this castle that the majority of Nessie (Loch Ness Monster) sightings occur.



Glamis Castle, one of the possible locations for Macbeth's castle, is situated beside the village of Glamis in Angus. Glamis Castle was the childhood home of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, best known as the Queen Mother. Her second daughter, Princess Margaret, was born there.



Hermitage Castle is a bleak and imposing 14th century fortress in the Scottish Borders. It's associated with the legend of Thomas of Ercildoune, who saved the local inhabitants from Baron de Soulis.

Kilchurn Castle is a ruined 15th century structure on the northeastern end of Loch Awe, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Today, its picturesque setting and romantic state of decay make it one of the most photographed structures in Scotland.

Do yo know any Famous Scottish actors and actresses?

well... just to get started here is two of the most famous actors and actresses from Scotland:

The visually striking and fiercely talented Scottish actress Tilda Swinton is known for appearing in both arthouse and mainstream films. She won an Academy Award in 2008 for 'Best Supporting Actress' for her performance in Michael Clayton, and is well know for her role as the White Witch in the Chronicles of Narnia film series. Recently Swinton played Eva, in We Need to Talk About Kevin, and her role on the movie ¨The curious case of Benjamin Button¨.  

      

James Andrew McAvoy is a Scottish stage and screen actor. He first came to public attention in the hit UK show, Shameless. He then went on to play Dr Nicolas Garrigan in The Last King of Scotland in 2006 and young Charles Xavier in X-men: First Class. Since 2004 McAvoy has been nominated for 20 awards, six for which he has won. Two more of the famous movies: Wanted (2008) and The chronicles of Narnia (2005).

      

Sport

Scottish sport

It could be Scotland’s dream landscape; or our people, with their lust for life and a huge desire to enjoy themselves; or an innate inventiveness and creativity. Most likely it’s a combination of all of these factors that has led to Scotland’s sporting heritage and today’s true love of sport.

Scotland’s sporting traditions are legendary worldwide. Our country can lay claim to the

invention of a number of popular international sports, including golf, rugby and tennis. Other sports are also rooted in Scotland’s history books, such as hockey  (which originates from shinty), curling, and, of course, the Scottish Highland Games.

Football is one of the nation’s most popular spectator sports. It was a Scotsman, William McGregor, who set up the first English football league and it was in Scotland in 1872 that the first international match was played in Partick, Glasgow, where England and Scotland drew 0-0.

Today, a passion for football is played out in villages, towns and cities across Scotland, where you’ll discover amateur through to world-beating professional matches, leagues, cups and championships.

Olympic Games success

Scottish sport is a hotbed of talent. Our country was even more proud of its sporting heroes when 55 Scottish Olympians and 27 Scottish Paralympians were selected for the 2012 London Olympic Games. Team GB exceeded all expectations during this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic games, winning an unprecedented 185 medals in total.

Scotland’s 24 medals were in athletics, cycling, hockey, judo, rowing, sailing, slalom canoeing, swimming and tennis.

And in 2014, Glasgow hosts the XX Commonwealth Games. Already the excitement is building for sports men and women – and spectators – with the opening of the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and a myriad of other work being carried out on athletics arenas, swimming complexes and mountain bike trails.

There is also a wealth of opportunities for Scotland’s people to become involved in sports. State-of-the-art facilities, such as at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho; a wide variety of dry slope and real snow ski centres, world-acclaimed mountain biking trails, excellent athletics complexes and Sport Scotland’s National Sailing Centre on the Isle of Cumbrae all combine to provide a sporting environment to rival many countries worldwide.

Scottish culture and traditions

Scotland has been handing down its traditions for close to a thousand years now, since the earliest days of the clans in the 12th century. However, Scottish traditions are not something sterile under glass and steel in a cold museum. They are vibrant, living things, constantly growing and evolving, and every generation adds the thumbprint of its own particular Scottish culture to the whole.

Bagpipes, haggis and kilts

Everybody knows the cliché of the piper on the shortbread tin. But have you experienced the breath-taking reality of a hundred pipers skirling in uplifting unison? This isn't an image from Scotland's cultural past: it happens every August at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and on Glasgow Green.

Or take food, for example. We all know the stereotypical notions of traditional Scottish fare - haggis, porridge and whisky. 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.

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.

Burns an a' that

The traditional Burns Supper, Hogmanay and St Andrews Day celebrations are still very much a part of Scottish culture but the Scots are now joined on these special days by Scot-o-philes across the globe. "Auld Lang Syne", a traditional Scottish song first written down by Burns, is the second most popular song in the world after "Happy Birthday".

Scotland’s Heroes & Heroines

Scotland's culture has been shaped by a long tradition of strong-willed and influential characters. View our gallery to find out more about these important Scottish figures.

The Scottish people

Warm, fun-loving and generous Scottish people

Scottish people have a worldwide reputation for warmth and friendliness. Whether it’s the 2.5 million visitors who travel to Scotland every year or the thousands who come to live permanently, so many talk of a genuine friendliness and a welcoming hospitality.

Did you know that almost three quarters of European visitors say that one of the main reasons for visiting Scotland is its people?

Everyday friendliness

The Scots love people – and they like to make others feel at home. You’ll find an enthusiastic friendliness in so many places. Ask a stranger for directions, buy something in a local shop, eat or drink in a pub or restaurant or put on the kettle in your workplace kitchen and you’ll be met with a smiling face and a friendly “Let me help”, “Tell me more about yourself” or “How are you?”

Culture and identity

Scottish people are proud of their nationality but they also have a long tradition of welcoming new people and cultures. Historically, Scotland has appreciated the benefits of embracing different cultures.

Today, Scotland is a richly diverse country with dozens of different cultures living in harmony. Tolerance, equality of opportunity and social justice are important principles of Scottish people and communities.

They love a party

Scotland knows how to party – and extends an invitation to all. From large Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) street parties and music and film festivals to more intimate Burns’ Suppers and St Andrew’s Day celebrations, there is always a fun event to attend.

Getting together, sharing good times, ‘having a blether’ and welcoming others with open arms give Scotland its reputation for being a happy and friendly country.

Really, it’s no wonder that 50 million people around the world claim Scottish ancestry – and so many want to be a part of our Scottish family.

In this section, you’ll find all the facts about Scotland you need to know, including information about  the Scottish population, their language as well as famous Scottish people.

This time is the turn of SCOTLAND!

Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom (UK) and occupies the northern third of Great Britain. Scotland’s mainland shares a border with England to the south. It is home to almost 800 small islands, including the northern isles of Shetland and Orkney, the Hebrides, Arran and Skye.

Scotland’s location is to the mid-west of Europe and is surrounded by several different seas. Located to the east of Scotland is the North Sea, which divides the country from other areas of Europe, in particular Norway and the rest of Scandinavia. Across the North Sea to the south-east is Denmark and further south still is Germany.

North and west of Scotland’s mainland is the Atlantic Ocean. Travelling north from Scotland will eventually bring you to Iceland and Greenland.

To the south-west, across the Irish Sea, is Scotland’s closest neighbouring island of Northern Ireland and Eire.

Olympics London 2012

 

 

 

 

Culture stuff

Etymology

Etymology refers to the study of the history of words and names. The origin of certain name places, such as England (for example), tells an important story about the ancient heritage of the land and the people that once inhabited it. England’s name originally comes from the term “Land of the Angles”, which was translated to Engla Land in Old English. The Angles were an ancient Germanic (or Saxon) tribe, one of the few that occupied the region now known as England during the Early Middle Ages (a period that stretched from about 400 to 1000 of our Common Era, or CE). This tribe hailed from an area in the Bay of Kiel known as the Angeln Peninsula. This is situated in the Baltic Sea. Replica of a decorated gold and silver Anglo-Saxon helmet found at the Sutton Hoo archeological site in East Anglia The first time any mention of the name for modern-day England was used was in the first century of our Common Era. In this instance, Tacitus used the Latin word, Anglii. The first time the word “England” was used in reference to the bottom part of the Great Britain area was in 897 CE. The first time it was spelt as it is today was in 1538. When used in conjunction with another term (such as Saxon, representing the ancient Germanic tribes), this word becomes Anglo- (that is, Anglo-Saxon). Another name for England is “Albion”, which was originally used to refer to the entire area of Great Britain. The origin of this term is not clear. It could be from the Latin word meaning ‘white’ (albus), which would refer to the iconic White Cliffs of Dover. These are the first sight to greet many ocean-bound travellers arriving in England for the first time. Alternatively, there could have been an island called Albiones, since one was mentioned in Massaliote Periplus, which was a merchant’s handbook in ancient times. Today, the term Albion is still sometimes used in reference to England in poems and classic literary works. Loegria is another name for the country of England. This name is usually used in a romantic context and refers to the Welsh word “Lloegr”, which hails from the legend of King Arthur. England’s history is a complex one. Peering into the many names it has been given and their origins reveal elements of this rich heritage, peeling away the layers to uncover a land of extraordinary origins.

Architecture

England’s history is a long and complex one. This heritage is perpetuated as we consider the architecture through the ages, much of which remains as a testimony to the people and events that moulded the nation’s rich heritage. There are remnants of this architecture from ancient Druidic times (e.g. Stonehenge) and Roman occupation (e.g. the Roman Baths), right through the Victorian and Early English phases to the modern look and feel of the 21st century. Each design era exudes its own signature styles and an undeniable air of intrigue, despite being very different from one another. Although trends and eras have overlapped and coincided, English architecture can basically be defined according to the following timeline: • Prehistoric (e.g. Stonehenge and similar structure) • Roman (stylish, sophisticated, advanced) • Saxon (simplistic, wood was the main medium) • Medieval (focus on the ability of sculptures to educate, rounded, heavy arches) • Gothic (divided into Norman, Early English, Decorated, and Perpendicular) • Tudor (smaller buildings, focussed more on details than space) • Elizabethan (grand, beautiful, emphasis on opulence) • Baroque (bold, curved lines with plenty of weight and detail, disproportional) • Georgian (classical style, the townhouse being the most prominent rise of the era) • The Palladian Movement (graceful, understated elegance) • Victorian (a return to the Gothic era, this phase was characterised by being either very extravagant and detailed, or almost bizarrely simplistic) The buildings that have remained significant through the ages, both for their historical and cultural import as well as for the fact that they remain for tourists and locals to enjoy are usually abbeys and monasteries, castles, country houses, cathedrals and manors. Waddesdon Manor is a country house in the village of Waddesdon, near Aylesbury. in Buckinghamshire, England. The house was built in the Neo-Renaissance style of a French château between 1874 and 1889 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild The last member of the Rothschild family to own Waddesdon was James de Rothschild before the property was bequeathed to the nation upon his death.

Sayings And Expressions

There are a number of sayings and expressions that come from England, some a little more risqué than others. The following are only a few of these:

Bloody Nora – usually said in exasperation (e.g. “Bloody Nora, I can’t seem to figure this timetable out!”)
The Bees Knees – just fabulous.
What Are You Like? – said to someone that is being silly or funny.
Tongue in Cheek Humour - referring to a wry, subtle or teasing humour that may not be obviously humorous at first.
Voddy – Vodka.
Cheesed Off – very annoyed or bored.
Spiffing – great, wonderful.
Cor – an exclamation of surprise or wonder.
Dodgy - not trustworthy.
Chuffed to bits – very pleased.
Bob's your uncle – said in place of “and there you have it!” or “you have it made”.
Big girl's blouse – a weakling or weak person (in terms of character).
Burning the candle at both ends – working too hard with no rest.
Your eyes are bigger than your stomach – you took more food than you were able to eat.
Tie the knot – to get married.
Talk the hind legs off a donkey – referring to an extremely talkative person.
Do you want a brew? – would you like a cup of tea?
As queer as a nine bob note – strange or odd.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth – do not question it when you experience good fortune, just accept it.
A cat may look at a king – although ‘inferior’, a person is not restricted in what he can do in the presence of someone superior to him.

Many famous sayings come from the writings of acclaimed English author, poet and playwright, William Shakespeare. Just some of these include:

A dish fit for the gods - a delicious meal.
A fool's paradise – happiness that is based on an unrealistic or false hope.
A foregone conclusion – a decision that was made before all the evidence was considered.
A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse – used when someone is looking for something that is relatively unimportant.
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players – referring to the perceived futility of life and smallness of mankind.
All's well that ends well – as long as a situation ended well, it can all be considered to be alright.
As pure as the driven snow – pure and clean.
At one fell swoop – something that happens suddenly and in one, swift action.
Fight fire with fire – fight with the same intensity or tools that your opponent is using.
Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears – usually said in jest when trying to get the attention of an audience.
I will wear my heart upon my sleeve – to be very honest and open with one’s emotions.
Love is blind – when in love, one does not see the imperfections of another as others may.
Make your hair stand on end – something that makes you feel fearful, awkward or eerie.
Much ado about nothing – making a fuss over a relatively small or unimportant situation.
Mum's the word – keep quiet, particularly about a certain secret or piece of information.
There's method in my madness – although my methods seem nonsensical, I have a plan.
Too much of a good thing – there is such as thing as too much of something, even if it is very enjoyable.
Wild goose chase – an unsuccessful search in the wrong places.
Woe is me – expressing pity for one’s self.

Actors

Hugh Grant

 I'll put more later (;

Movies!

Some Movies

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

                              

Goal

                                                         

Green Street Hooligans

Shaun of Dead

Sherlock Holmes

 

Music and National Song of England

National Song of England

Although England does not have a National Anthem of its own, it generally uses the National Anthem of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; namely “God Save the Queen”' as its National Song. This is als

the Commonwealth Anthem. This national song is sung before international football and rugby matches.

 

Music

England has produced some of the world’s best music throughout history. In fact, as a country, England has spearheaded some of the world’s most significant musical movements and trends.

 

 

Some bands

Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, The Clash, Sex Pistols, Depeche Mode, Queen, The Smiths, Stone Roses, Oasis, Radiohead, Pulp, Supergrass, Blur, The Libertines, Cold play, The police.

 

Cities

Bradford	Coventry	Lancaster	Newcastle upon Tyne	Ripon	Truro
Brighton and Hove	Derby	Leeds	Norwich	Salford	Wakefield
Bristol	Durham	Leicester	Nottingham	Salisbury	Wells
Cambridge	Ely	Lichfield	Oxford	Sheffield	Westminster
Canterbury	Exeter	Lincoln	Peterborough	Southampton	Winchester
Carlisle	Gloucester	Liverpool	Plymouth	St Albans	Wolverhampton
Chester	Hereford	London	Portsmouth	Stoke on Trent	Worcester
Chichester	Kingston upon Hull	Manchester	Preston	Sunderland	York