Scotland (Gaelic: Alba) is a country in northwest Europe that occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. It is part of the United Kingdom, and shares a land border to the south with England. It is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the southwest. In addition to the mainland, Scotland consists of over 790 islands including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.
Edinburgh, the country's capital and second largest city, is one of Europe's largest financial centres. It was the hub of the Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th century, which saw Scotland become one of the commercial, intellectual and industrial powerhouses of Europe. Scotland's largest city is Glasgow, which was once one of the world's leading industrial metropolises, and now lies at the centre of the Greater Glasgow conurbation which dominates the Scottish Lowlands. Scottish waters consist of a large sector of the North Atlantic and the North Sea, containing the largest oil reserves in the European Union.
The Kingdom of Scotland was an independent state until 1 May 1707 when it joined in a political union with the Kingdom of England to create a united Kingdom of Great Britain. This union was the result of the Treaty of Union agreed in 1706 and put into effect by the Acts of Union that were passed by the Parliaments of both countries despite widespread protest across Scotland. Scotland's legal system continues to be separate from those of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and Scotland still constitutes a distinct jurisdiction in public and in private law. The continued independence of Scots law, the Scottish education system, and the Church of Scotland have all contributed to the continuation of Scottish culture and Scottish national identity since the Union. Although Scotland is no longer a separate sovereign state, the constitutional future of Scotland continues to give rise to debate.
Scotland's head of state is the monarch of the United Kingdom, currently Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952).
Scotland has limited self-government within the United Kingdom as well as representation in the UK Parliament. Executive and legislative powers have been devolved to, respectively, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh. The United Kingdom Parliament retains power over a set list of areas explicitly specified in the Scotland Act 1998 as reserved matters, including, for example, levels of UK taxes, social security, defence, international relations and broadcasting, with all other matters being devolved.
Demography
The population of Scotland in the 2001 census was 5,062,011. This has risen to 5,116,900 according to June 2006 estimates. This would make Scotland the 112th largest country by population if it were a sovereign state. Although Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland it is not the largest city. With a population of just over 600,000 this honour falls to Glasgow. Indeed, the Greater Glasgow conurbation, with a population of over 1.1 million, is home to over a fifth of Scotland's population.
Scotland has three officially recognised languages: English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic. Almost all Scots speak Scottish Standard English, and in 1996 the General Register Office for Scotland estimated that 30% of the population are fluent in Scots. Gaelic is mostly spoken in the Western Isles, where a majority of people still speak it; however, nationally its use is confined to just 1% of the population.
Tourist attractions
Edinburgh Castle
The Highlands
Iona Abbey
Wallace Monument
SYMBOLS OF SCOTLAND
The Saltire
This flag is part of Scotland's special identity. The Scottish flag or ‘saltire’ is derived from the cross of St Andrew, Scotland's patron saint.
National anthem
There is no official national anthem of Scotland. However, there is a complex and on-going social and political dispute amongst many contenders for the title of the nation's de jure song, which has polarised much of the public.
Tune Votes (%) Flower of Scotland 41% Scotland the Brave 29% Highland Cathedral 16% A Man's a Man for A' That 7% Scots Wha Hae 7%
The Thistle
This is another reminder of Scotland. Its role as a Scottish emblem relates to an incident in an early battle against Scandinavian invaders. The Scots, it is said, were alerted to a raiding party advancing under cover of darkness when one of the barefoot raiders yelled in pain after stepping on a Thistle!
The Scottish Crown Jewels
The Scottish Crown Jewels, known as the Honours of Scotland, are the oldest regalia in the British Isles. They comprise a crown, a sword and a sceptre, all of which date from the 15th and 16th centuries. Together with the Stone of Destiny, these symbols of Scottish nationhood are on permanent public display at Edinburgh Castle.
Tartan
The distinctive checked cloth of the Highlands has now come to represent all of Scotland.
The Great Highland Bagpipe
Probably the best-known variety of bagpipe. Abbreviated GHB, and commonly referred to simply as "the pipes", they have historically taken numerous forms in Scotland.
The Royal Standard of Scotland
Also known as the Royal Standard of the King of Scots or more commonly the Lion Rampant, is the Scottish Royal banner, and its correct use is restricted to only a few Great Officers who officially represent The Sovereign.
The Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland
It was the official coat of arms of the monarchs of Scotland, and were used as the official coat of arms of the Kingdom of Scotland until the Acts of Union of 1707. The blazon of the arms of the Kingdom of Scotland changed markedly following the Union of the Crowns in 1603, and ultimately went on to become the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom used in Scotland.
Wales is a country bordering England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union. The capital is Cardiff. The Welsh Language Act 1993 and the Government of Wales Act 1998 provide that the Welsh and English languages be treated on a basis of equality. Traditionally the British Royal Family have bestowed the courtesy title of 'Prince of Wales' upon the heir apparent of the reigning monarch.
Originally (and traditionally) a Celtic land and one of the Celtic nations, a distinct Welsh national identity emerged in the early fifth century, after the Roman withdrawal from Britain. The 13th-century defeat of Llewelyn by Edward I completed the Anglo-Norman conquest of Wales and brought about centuries of English occupation. Wales was subsequently incorporated into England with the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542, creating the legal entity known today as England and Wales. However, distinctive Welsh politics developed in the 19th century, and in 1881 the Welsh Sunday Closing Act became the first legislation applied exclusively to Wales. In 1955 Cardiff was proclaimed as national capital and in 1999 the National Assembly for Wales was created, which holds responsibility for a range of devolved matters.
PEOPLE
Sir Anthony Hopkins (1937 - )
Terry Jones (1942 - )
Gwyneth Lewis (1959 - ), National Poet of Wales
Evan James, (1809-1878), poet and co-author of the Welsh national anthem
Robert Owen (1771–1858), social reformer
Dylan Marlais Thomas (1914 – 1953) was a Welsh poet who wrote exclusively in English. His best-known works include the "play for voices" Under Milk Wood and the celebrated villanelle for his dying father, Do not go gentle into that good night.
SYMBOLS
Patron Saint - St David On March 1st celebration - the singing of traditional songs followed by a Te Bach, tea with teisen bach and bara brith. Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon, is flown as a flag or worn as a pin or pendant, and leeks are worn, and sometimes eaten. His flag is a yellow cross on the black background.
The Welsh Flag - in 1959 Queen made the Red Dragon on a green and white, the official Welsh flag
A lovespoon is a wooden spoon, often very complex, carved from a single piece of wood by a young man and presented to his sweetheart as a token of his affection. Although the earliest surviving one dates from 1667, the custom was widespread in Wales before that date. The spoon may be plain or intricately decorated with various symbols - birds, hearts, wheels, balls - each representing good luck, the blessing of children, wealth, health, etc. The custom of young men carving lovespoons has, perhaps understandably, died out, but they are today a popular souvenir of Wales.
The Royal National Eisteddfod (meaning "sitting together" or "gathering") takes place alternately in North and South Wales and it is an eight day cultural festival which is held at the beginning of August every year. It attracts about 6000 competitors and 150,000 visitors. It is the largest popular festival of competitive music-making and poetry-writing in Europe. The event takes place solely in the Welsh language.
The Eisteddfod evolved from ancient bardic tournaments in which apprentice poets and musicians would compete against each other for a seat of honour in the households of noblemen. Winning such a tournament was a certain passport to employment, for poets depended on the patronage of wealthy noblemen and landowners for their livelihood. Today it is a unique celebration of Welsh language, art, culture and heritage.
The first National Eisteddfod as we recognise it today was held at Aberdare in Mid Glamorgan in 1861. In 1880 the National Eisteddfod Association was formed and charged with the responsibility of staging an annual festival.
The National Anthem - Land of my fathers
Evan James, wrote the words one Sunday morning in January 1856 to a tune composed by his son James James, which was possibly based on an old harp melody. The date of the song's adoption as the National Anthem is uncertain, but it is known that the tune was given prominence during the National Eisteddfod held at Bangor in 1874, and since that date has been considered the song which, more than any other, expresses Welsh national sentiment. Now afforded official status as the National Anthem of Wales by general assent, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau is sung on a wide variety of occasions throughout the country.
The leek and the daffodil, the harp, the Sessile Oak, the Red Kite (wildlife)
Welsh National costume evolved in Wales in the late 18th century as a development of costume worn in town and country. Today the costume is usually worn by young girls throughout Wales on St David's Day. The typical female costume, as designed and made popular by Lady Llanover, was made up of the following:
· Tall hat, made out of hard board with thin beaver fabric glued on to it
· white cap, worn under the hat, made of cotton or muslin with long frilled lappets extending down the shoulders
· bedgown
· white blouse
· petticoat
· small red flannel shawl
· cloak
· skirt , full and made of wool with a black and white check pattern.
· white starched apron
· black woollen stockings and black shoes
· a basket, made from willow withies would often be carried.
The anonymous nursery rhyme listing the so-called seven wonders of Wales was probably written by an English visitor to North Wales sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century.
Pistyll Rhaeadr (1) and Wrexham steeple (2),Snowdon's mountain (3) without its people,Overton Yew-trees (4), St. Winifred wells (5), Llangollen Bridge (6) and Gresford (7) bells.
1) Wales' tallest waterfall, at 240 ft (73 m)
2) 16th century tower of St. Giles Church in Wrexham
3) the highest mountain
4) ancient yew trees in the churchyard of St. Mary's at Overton-on-Dee
5) a pilgrimage site at Holywell
6) built in 1347 over the River Dee
7) the peal of bells in the medieval church of All Saints at Gresford
The largest religion in Wales is Christianity, with 72% of the population describing themselves as Christian in the 2001 census. The Presbyterian Church of Wales is the largest denomination and was born out of the Welsh Methodist revival in the 18th century and seceded from the Church of England in 1811. The Church in Wales is the next largest denomination, and forms part of the Anglican Communion. It too was part of the Church of England, and was disestablished by the British Government under the Welsh Church Act 1914 (the act did not take effect until 1920). The Roman Catholic Church makes up the next largest denomination at 3% of the population. Non-Christian religions are small in Wales, making up approximately 1.5% of the population. 18% of people declare no religion.
Some traditional dishes include laverbread (made from seaweed), bara brith (fruit bread), Cawl a lamb stew and cawl cennin (leek soup), Welsh cakes, Welsh rarebit, and Welsh lamb. Cockles are sometimes served with breakfast bacon.
Patrusiak