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The Kilt...
 Scotland's National Garment the Kilt is without a doubt the most well-known symbol of Scotland and Scottish ancestry. The Scottish kilt displays uniqueness of design, construction, and convention which differentiate it from other garments. A modern kilt is a finely tailored garment that is wrapped around the wearer's body at the waist. The fastenings consist of straps and buckles on both ends, and it is most commonly constructed of twill-woven worsted wool in the pattern of the wearer's Clan or Family Sett or tartan pattern. The overlapping layers in front are called "aprons" and are flat whilst the single layer of fabric around the sides and back is pleated. A kilt pin may be fastened to the front apron on the free corner. Undergarments may or may not be worn, as the wearer prefers. In some circumstances underwear is prohibited by military regulations. However, it is generally accepted that a gentleman will wear undergarments when engaging in activities such as dancing or hiking.
The history of the kilt stretches back to at least late 16th century Scotland. However, the nationalism of that tradition is relatively recent. It was only with the Romantic Revival of the early 19th century that the highland kilt was adopted by Lowlanders (inhabitants of the the non-Gaelic region of Scotland residing everywhere due south and east of the Highland Line) and the Scottish Diaspora as a symbol of national identity.
 The kilt first appeared as the feileadh mor, or the "great kilt," a full length garment consisting of about 4 to 6 yards of woven tartan fabric whose upper half could be worn as a cloak draped over the shoulder, or brought up over head as a cloak. The feileadh beag, or the "small kilt," sometimes called a "walking kilt," did not develop until the late 17th or early 18th century, and is essentially the bottom half of the great kilt. A modern kilt for a typical adult uses about 6–8 yards of tartan fabric.
Following the Jacobite Rising of 1745, the Act of Proscription came into effect in Scotland, which was part of a series of efforts to assimilate the unruly Scottish Highlands. A section of this new law known as the Dress Act banned the wearing of the kilt for more than thirty years. Punishments started with fines and possible forced conscription for late payment. Repeat offenders were liable to be exiled or forced into indentured slavery. It is ironic that the very government that sought to subjugate the Highlanders and crush the Clan system altogether would ultimately send kilted conscripted Highlanders around the world to spread the reach of the British empire from end of the globe to the other.
The modern kilt is a veritable work of art compared to the utilitarian kilt of old. Today's kilt continues to find its way into modern fashion, much as it did in the 19th century amongst the British aristocracy during the Highland Revival. Every year, Dewar's Scotch Whisky hosts Dressed to Kilt in New York City in which the world's top designers highlight the kilt, showcasing their latest designs in tartan garments. Many famous models and actors can be seen donning the kilt on the runway for this event, further fueling the kilt's unceasing popularity.
Compiled with permission under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License from the Kilt article and the Act of Proscription 1746 article on Wikipedia.com.
The Tartan...
 One of the most distinctive features of the authentic Scottish kilt is the tartan, or sett, it exhibits. Tartan is a pattern consisting of alternating bands of colored pre-dyed threads woven as both warp and weft at right angles to each other. The resulting blocks of color repeat vertically and horizontally in a distinctive pattern of squares and lines known as a sett. Most tartans are symmetrical, mirroring the thread count at a pivot point, whilst some tartans are asymmetrical, which means they do not have a pivot point. Tartan patterns for gentlemen's kilts are always arranged horizontally and vertically, never diagonally.
Tartan patterns have been used in British and Irish weaving for centuries. The earliest predecessor of the modern tartan has recently been found in Scotland at Falkirk and dates from the 3rd century AD. Particolored cloth was used by the Celts from the earliest time, but the variety of colors in the clothing was greater or less, according to the wealth of the wearer. The association of particular tartans with individual clans and families can be traced back perhaps one or two centuries. It was only in the Victorian era that the system of named tartans we know today began to be systematically recorded and formalized, mostly by weaving companies for mercantile purposes. The naming and registration of official clan tartans began on April 8, 1815 when the Highland Society of London resolved that all the clan chiefs each "be respectfully solicited to furnish the Society with as Much of the Tartan of his Lordship's Clan as will serve to Show the Pattern and to Authenticate the Same by Attaching Thereunto a Card bearing the Impression of his Lordship's Arms." Up until this point, highland tartans held regional associations rather than being identified with any particular clan. Today there are also tartans for districts, counties, societies and corporations. There are also setts for States and Provinces, schools and universities, sporting activities, individuals, and commemorative and simple generic patterns that anybody can wear.
Tartans are commercially woven in four standard color variations that describe the overall tone. "Ancient" or "Old" colors may be characterized by a slightly faded look intended to resemble the vegetable dyes that were once used, although in some cases "Old" simply identifies a tartan that was in use before the current one. Ancient greens and blues are lighter while reds appear orange. "Modern" colors are bright and show off modern alkaline dyeing methods. The colors are bright red, dark hunter green, and usually navy blue. "Weathered" or "Reproduction" colors simulate the look of older cloth weathered by the elements. Greens turn to light brown, blues become gray, and reds are a deeper wine color. The last color variation is "Muted" which tends toward earth tones. The greens are olive, blues are slate blue, and red is an even deeper wine color. There are roughly 5,000 registered tartans available, to which there are four possible color variations for each. To be formally recognized, a tartan must be registered with the Scottish Tartans Authority, which maintains a collection of tartan fabric samples characterized by name and thread count.
Compiled with permission under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License from the Kilt article and the Tartan article on Wikipedia.com.
Scotch Thistle...
 Like the Camellia is the official state flower of Alabama, Scotch thistle, or Onopordum acanthium, is the national flower of Scotland and a well-known emblem. Also called Cotton Thistle or Spear Thistle, Scotch Thistle is commonly a branched, robust flower that often grows eight feet or more in height. Prickles often occur all over the plant. The flowers range from dark pink to lavender in color and the leaves of are armed with sharp, yellow spines. The thistle is an ancient Celtic symbol of nobility and of birth, for the wounding or provocation of a thistle yields punishment.
The flower of the Scotch Thistle has been the national emblem of Scotland since the reign of Alexander III (1249 - 1286). According to legend, an invading Norse army was attempting to sneak up at night upon a Scots army encampment. During this operation, one barefoot Norseman had the misfortune to step upon a Scotch Thistle, causing him to cry out in pain, thus alerting Scots to the presence of the Norse invaders. This was a common defense for forts and castles, as spiky plants such as the Scotch Thistle appear to have been used as a natural defensive barrier since time immemorial.
Scotch thistle can also be found all over North America, and it was probably introduced as an ornamental plant in the late nineteenth century. It can be abundant in dry pastures, fields, and rangeland from east coast to west coast.
Compiled with permission under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License from the Thistle article and the Onopordum acanthium articleon Wikipedia.com.
Robert Burns...
 The "Immortal Bard" Robert Burns (1759 – 1796), Scotland's favorite son, was a famous Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the National Poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best-known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a "light" Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these pieces, his political or civil commentary is often at its most blunt.
Burns is best-known for his song "Auld Lang Syne" (Scots for "old long since"), considered by some to be the world's most popular song. It is sung each year at midnight on New Year's Day (called Hogmanay in Scotland) in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong, and English-speaking areas of India, Pakistan, and Canada, and signifies the start of a new year. In Scotland it is often sung at the end of a céilidh, or a dance. It is common practice that everyone joins hands with the person next to them to form a great circle around the dance floor. At the beginning of the last verse, everyone crosses their arms across their breast, so that the right hand reaches out to the neighbor on the left and vice versa. During the last chorus, people might start jumping up and down. When the tune ends, everyone rushes to the middle, while still holding hands. When the circle is re-established, everyone turns under the arms to end up facing outwards with hands still joined.
He is also the lyricist for "Scots Wha Hae", which served for a long time as Scotland's unofficial national anthem. Other poems and songs of Burns that remain well-known across the world today, include "A Red, Red Rose", "A Man's A Man for A' That", "To a Mouse" and "Ae Fond Kiss".
Compiled with permission under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License from the Robert Burns article and the Auld Lang Syne article on Wikipedia.com.
Saint Andrew...
 Saint Andrew, the "First-called," is a Christian Apostle and the younger brother of Saint Peter. About the middle of the tenth century, Andrew became the patron saint of Scotland. Saint Andrew was martyred on diagonal X-shaped cross known in heraldry as a saltire. The Flag of Scotland, often called "The Saltire", is a white saltire on a blue field. The Flag of Alabama is nearly identical to the Flag of Scotland, being a red saltire on a white field.
Several legends state that the relics of Andrew were brought under supernatural guidance from Constantinople to the place where the modern town of St. Andrews stands today. Ancient manuscripts state that the relics of Andrew were brought to the Pictish King Angus in the 8th century. According to legend, the Pictish King Angus led the Picts and Scots in battle against the Angles. During the night Saint Andrew appeared to Angus and assured him of victory. On the following morning, a white saltire against the background of a blue sky appeared to both sides. The Picts and Scots were heartened by this, but the Angles lost confidence and were defeated.
Compiled with permission under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License from the Saint Andrew article and the Flag of Scotland article on Wikipedia.com.
The Pìob Mhòr, or Bagpipe...
 The Great Highland Bagpipe, commonly referred to simply as "the Pipes," is probably the best-known symbol of Scotland, often eliciting strong emotions for the listener and enthusiast. With an intense almost cult-like following, the Pipes are widely used by both soloists and civilian and military pipe bands in countries around the world, particularly those with large Scottish and Irish emigrant populations, namely Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, United States of America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The bagpipe itself is an ancient instrument dating back several millenia. Consisting of an air supply in the form of a bag or bladder, a chanter (the melody piece) and at least one drone, the bagpipe migrated westward across Europe from its Arabic homeland. From Gaul in Western Europe, it crossed the Channel to Britain and Ireland where it can be found in several forms from the Pìob Mhòr to the Northumbrian Pipes to the Uilleann pipes made popular by Riverdance. However, its most notable form is that of the Great Highland Bagpipe, made famous—or infamous—by the Scottish Regiments conscripted by the British Empire during its rapid global expanse in the 19th and 20th centuries. As a result of British empirical expanse, the Pipes have also been adopted by many countries that were formerly part of the British Empire, such as India, Pakistan, Arabic countries such as Egypt and Oman and Uganda. Even Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, and Japan have adopted the Pipes, and the Tibetans have even adopted the Great Highland Bagpipe as their national instrument for the military.
The Caledonian Society of Alabama is proud to sponsor the Ian Sturrock Memorial Pipe Band (ISMPB), newly-christened in honor of the first piper in the state of Alabama and Society Founder Ian Sturrock, whose bagpipes are stilled played in this band to this day by the Pipe Major (pictured above). Boasting a membership of more than 20 pipers and drummers, ISMPB is an EUSPBA member Grade 5 competition band and is the sister band of the EUSPBA member Grade 4 Duncan McCall Pipe Band of Pensacola, Florida.
The Caledonian Society of Alabama has the great fortune of counting amongst our ranks our own Birmingham Bagpiper Ryan Morrison, an award-winning Grade 1 Piper, Pipe Major of the Ian Sturrock Memorial Pipe Band, and Alabama's First and ONLY Professional Ceremonial Bagpiper. For more information about the Great Highland Bagpipes and about lessons, please email Ryan or visit his website at BirminghamBagpiper.com.
Compiled with permission under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License from the Bagpipes article and the Great Highland Bagpipes article on Wikipedia.com.
The Clàrsach, or Harp...
 Called the Clàrsach (pronounced CLARshock) in Scots Gaelic, the harp was an instrument of the highest status in both Scotland and Ireland, and harpists were amongst the most prestigious cultural figures amongst kings and chiefs. In both countries, the harpist enjoyed special rights and played a crucial part in ceremonial occasions such as coronation and poetic recital. As the Gaelic social order collapsed from the 17th century, harpers were no longer retained by patrons. Instead their numbers declined and they became itinerant singer-songwriters touring a circuit of lesser patrons. By the 18th century the historical Scottish clàrsach was extinct in Scotland, and the Irish harp died out in Ireland in the early 19th century.
Happily, in the early 19th century, a completely new harp tradition was introduced to Ireland and Scotland, triggering a revival of the harp. This harp had gut strings and semitone mechanisms like an orchestral pedal harp. Though it was small and curved like the historical clàrsach, its strings and soundbox were modern. These new instruments were popular and formed the basis of the 20th century revival in Ireland, Scotland and across the world and are commonly known as the Celtic Harp or folk harp. The Celtic Harp has thousands of players, both in Scotland and Ireland, as well as North America and elsewhere.
Compiled with permission under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License from the Cláirseach article on Wikipedia.com.
Haggis...
 Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish of some fame, resembling stuffed intestines, sausage, or pudding. There are many recipes, most of which have in common the following ingredients: sheep's "pluck" (heart, liver, and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally boiled in the animal's stomach for approximately three hours.
The origins of this peculiar entrée are a bit of a mystery. Some believe that haggis originated in Scotland, whilst others assert the original source might have been Scandinavia. Still others believe it might have had its origins as far back as ancient Roman times. whatever its source, it is generally assumed that haggis was born of necessity. In times of famine, the Scottish people were known to eat whatever it was that they could get their hands on, and haggis evolved as a way to utilize the least appetizing portions of an animal.
Scotland's national poet Robert Burns immortalized the famous dish in his poem "Address to a Haggis":
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak yer place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o' a grace
As lang's my airm.
Haggis is traditionally served with the Burns Night Supper on the week of January 25, when Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, is commemorated. The "Address" is recited in a theatrical fashion whilst Scotch whisky is poured over the haggis from a quaich (pronounced KWAYSH), a traditional two-handled drinking cup.
Compiled with permission under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License from the Haggis article on Wikipedia.com.
The Lion Rampant...
 The Royal Standard of Scotland, also known as the Lion Rampant, was the flag used historically by the King of Scots. It was the banner of the Royal Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Scotland. The Lion is commonly thought to have been adopted in the early 12th century by William the Lion, who reigned as King of Scots from 1165 to 1214. The flag is a red lion rampant with blue tongue and claws within a red double tressure flory counter-flory on a yellow field, specified in heraldry as "Or, a lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a double tressure flory counter-flory Gules".
The flag is used officially at the Scottish Royal residencies of Holyrood Palace and Balmoral Castle when the Queen is not in residence. Today, the flag is used unofficially as a second national flag of Scotland in America and abroad. Despite such use actually being illegal under the Act of the Parliament of Scotland 1672, which officially established the banner as the personal banner of the monarch, the Lyon Court has never prosecuted offenders for flying the Standard unofficially.
Compiled with permission under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License from the Royal Standard of Scotland article on Wikipedia.com.
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