Scotland has a population of about 5 million people, of which about three-fourths live in the crowded Central Lowlands(which
makes up about a fifth of the country). There are about a fifth of the people in the Highlands and less than a tenth live
in the Southern Uplands(which makes up a seventh of Scotland). The largest city, Glasgow, has a population of about 734,000
people, and about 440,000 live in Edinburgh, the capital. Dundee and Aberdeen are rather large too. One problem is emigration,
many leave Scotland every year for job oppurtunities and since Scotland's are limited they are making new industries to reduce
this problem.
English is the official language in Scotland and throughout Great Britain, and in Scotland it has a variety of dialects
and accents. Also about 80,000 Scots speak Gaelic. Gaelic is an ancient celtic language that is spoken mainly by people who
live in the Highlands, or Scotland's many offshore islands. Scottish people mostly live in industrial cities or towns, living
in small homes or apartments, which half of are owned by the government.
Because of the cool summers and cold winters, many people wear warm tweed suits, coats, and thick woolen sweaters all
year, and most of which comes from their famous woolen mills. Tartan is a plaid design mainly used to describe the pattern
of a clan's design. Tartan is used to make a kilts as as well as shirts, ties, and other clothing. Clans were the begining
of most Scottish traditions, starting hundreds of years ago and they are made up of families who have a common ancestor and
the same name like MacDonald or MacKenzie. But, today, clans have lost their importance in the life of their members , though
each is still ruled by a chieftan, the chieftan doesn't have authority over members. The bagpipe music is another Scottish
tradition.
Haggis
Scottish people's favorite dishes include, herring, lamb stew, roast beef and roast lamb. Other dishes are steak from
their own Aberdeen-Angus cattle, haggis(dish made from the heart, liver and lung of a sheep or calf,cut with animal fat and
other seasonings and boiled in a sheep's stomach), kippers(smoked herring),oatmeal, salmon, hamburgers, pizzas, and curries.Tea
and coffee are popular as is whisky/scotch.
Popular types of recreation are golf, soccer, rugby, and the Highland games which include seeing who can heave a caber
the straightest, foot races, dancing competionts and bagpipe competions. Fishing, hiking, mountain climbing, and shooting
are popular as well. Winter sports include skiing and curling, which is a game where players must send heavy rocks towards
a target across the ice.
All children from 5-16 must attend school, which most of are public. Eight Universities are located in Scotland; Aberdeen,
Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, St. Andrews, Stirling, and Strathclyde.
The Presbterian Church is the official church of Scotland, but there are also Baptists, Episcopalians, Methodists, Roman
Catholics, and other types of Presbyterians.
Scotland has succeeded in the Arts in both literature and painting. Music includes the bagpipe, which can be used for
dancing.
