The Truth About Scotland

If you didn't know already we here at Simply Karah live and work in Scotland. We thought it was time we pitched in with our say on popular Scottish myths. So if you're reading for some of your Scottish misconceptions to be challenged then here we go.

The Kilt

Now, B and I don't go around wearing kilts for obvious reasons BUT it might shock some readers to know that neither do the Scottish men. I can go weeks without seeing a single man in a kilt.

That's not to say they don't exist. Come to a Scottish wedding or a ceilidh (that's a dance) and there will be kilts a plenty!

On a side note: did you know that different families have different types of tartan (that's the pattern kilts are made from) so families with the last name McDonald will have a different kilt from the Dempsie's.

The Food

We eat normal food. Honestly we do. We have normal restaurants and normal supermarkets. We don't eat Haggis Neaps and Tatties all day every day (translation: a weird Scottish food, turnip and potatoes).

And following on from that we don't eat Haggis all the time, and some of us don't even like Haggis! We traditionally eat it once a year on Burns Night which is a celebration of the work of Scottish poet Robert Burns.

The Hair Colour

We aren't all ginger. I'm sorry. But we aren't. B is though so that can cheer you up!

The Accent

There are a huge number of varieties of the Scottish accent just like English people don't all sound like Tom Hardy and Americans don't all sound like Jennifer Lawrence.

The Language

We speak English, regular English. Gaelic is only spoken by around 1.1% of the Scottish population.

Och Aye The Noo

I don't think I've ever said this in a casual conversation and I don't know any one who does.

The Weather

Yes it is cold in Scotland. And yes it does rain, a lot. But we don't live in the arctic. A lot of people in the rest of the UK experience very similar weather to us.

The People
No we aren't all angry and grumpy. Some of us are but I don't think that has anything to do with being Scottish. Our sense of humour may in general be more sarcastically inclined than yours though. Basically, if you think a Scottish person is being really mean, they're probably being sarcastic.

Bonus Vocabulary

Ah Ken - I know

Aye - Yes

Shoot - Slide

I would not recommend using these in conversation with a Scottish person. You won't impress them. You'll probably just annoy them.

Have we missed anything out?
Let us know!
@SimplyKarah10

Kate // SK