The Royal Representative

Archive for the ‘Scotland’ Category

People over at OurKingdom are debating about the fate of the UK. Some are suggesting an Anglo-Celtic bloc within the European Union (should the UK join), and refer to this possibility as a “decentralised Albion, with a Council of the Isles”.

Others are speaking up saying, “For England, a “confederated” United Kingdom would be nothing but gain. The obsession among Westminster politicians with keeping the union is archaic … An autonomous Scotland, a country as big as Denmark, should liberate the English parliament to enjoy a politics freed of the alien encumbrance of Scottish seats … It should also liberate England to consider its localism, its neglected Anglo-Saxon history and culture, without having to “take into account” the Scottish (or Irish or Welsh) ingredients of that curious vacuity, Britishness.”

Take a look around OurKingdom or start a debate in the British American Group

AWARD-WINNING PLAY BLACK WATCH MAKES AMERICAN DEBUT
Themes of Conflict and International Dialogue Highlighted, Dissected

Hurtling from a pool room in Fife to an armored wagon in Iraq, Black Watch is based on recent interviews conducted by acclaimed Scottish playwright Gregory Burke with former soldiers who served in Iraq. Viewed through the eyes of those on the ground, Black Watch reveals what it means to be part of the legendary Scottish regiment, what it means to be part of “the war on terror” and what it means to make the journey home again.

For more, see: National Theatre of Scotland OR The British Council (USA)

Referring back to the previous post “No Longer A Scottish Queen”, I just realized why the Union is a point of contention right now. 2007 is the 300th year that England, Scotland, and Wales have been united as one kingdom.

In 1707, the three countries were combined into the United Kingdom of Great Britain by the Act of the Union, endorsed by Queen Anne.

Interesting eh? Any comments on the timing of the debate?

Is the Union of England and Scotland at risk?

The chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, told the Fabian Society that some groups were “playing fast and loose” with the union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

He said the UK was a country “built on shared values” which served as a “model for the rest of the world”.

[More]

If Scotland wants to depart from a Union, I suppose the Queen will remain Sovereign of England, Wales, and N. Ireland only?

A guid New Year to ane an` a` and mony may ye see!



While New Year’s Eve is celebrated around the world, the Scots have a long rich heritage associated with this event - and have their own name for it, Hogmanay.

There are many theories about the derivation of the word “Hogmanay”. The Scandinavian word for the feast preceding Yule was “Hoggo-nott” while the Flemish words (many have come into Scots) “hoog min dag” means “great love day”. Hogmanay could also be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon, Haleg monath, Holy Month, or the Gaelic, oge maidne, new morning. But the most likely source seems to be the French. “Homme est né” or “Man is born” while in France the last day of the year when gifts were exchanged was “aguillaneuf” while in Normandy presents given at that time were “hoguignetes”. Take your pick!

In Scotland a similar practice to that in Normandy was recorded, rather disapprovingly, by the Church.

“It is ordinary among some Plebians in the South of Scotland, to go about from door to door upon New Year`s Eve, crying Hagmane.” Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence, 1693.

Hogmanay Traditional Celebrations Historians believe that we inherited the celebration from the Vikings who, coming from even further north than ourselves, paid even more attention to the passing of the shortest day. In Shetland, where the Viking influence was strongest, New Year is called Yules, from the Scandinavian word.

It may not be widely known but Christmas was not celebrated as a festival and virtually banned in Scotland for around 400 years, from the end of the 17th century to the 1950s. The reason for this has its roots in the Protestant Reformation when the Kirk portrayed Christmas as a Popish or Catholic feast and therefore had to be banned. Many Scots had to work over Christmas and their winter solstice holiday was therefore at New Year when family and friends gathered for a party and exchange presents, especially for the children, which came to be called hogmanays.