Scotland is a place of many rich traditions, and I’ve loved getting to experience them all. The first truly Scottish thing I did was try the country’s national dish, haggis. It was definitely not my most favorite meal, but they do have a really good vegetarian version! The second Scottish tradition I experienced was Burns Night. Robert Burns was a famous Scottish poet who is most famous in the States for writing Auld Lang Syne (the song sung on New Year’s Eve.) Burns Night is a great excuse to go out to a pub with friends and celebrate being Scottish. I went with a couple of classmates to a pub called Stramash where there was live music and lots of dancing.
Live music isn’t just reserved for Burns Night though. On any given day of the week, tons of pubs will have live music. Whether it’s a traditional Scottish band or an American cover band, you can find anything you like. There’s nothing better than grabbing a Tennent’s beer with friends and dancing to ‘500 Miles’ by the Proclaimers. Every time this song comes on the pubs go crazy. Everyone starts shouting and singing along, and it’s really fun to be a part of.
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Edinburgh was also amazing. My friends and I went to an Irish pub called Finnegan’s and listened to a traditional Irish band perform. I tried my first Guinness, and there was lots of Irish pride and dancing.
Bagpipes are also a huge part of the Scottish culture. You can always hear them playing along the Royal Mile, and most shops will have them faintly playing in the background. If the castles, cobblestones, and accents didn’t give it away that you were in Scotland, the sound of bagpipes certainly would. In Sterling, there’s an entire shop dedicated to the making, selling, and playing of bagpipes. The distinct sound will always remind me of my time abroad!
