Tag: Scotland

August Bank Holiday

This year we’re in Scotland on August 28, so we are affected by the August Bank Holiday. The August Bank Holiday was instituted by the Bank Holidays Act of 1871 to give bankers a day off so they could participate in cricket matches. Since then, however, its significance has greatly expanded beyond those narrow limits. Now, …

Continue reading

World Photo Day is Today!

  Today is another of those “Who Knew” holidays. I was recently talking to someone about our upcoming trip to Scotland and she reminded me to take lots of pictures.  Then, she said to be sure to print them out so she could see them. Um, no way!  I haven’t printed out pictures since probably …

Continue reading

It’s Tartan Week, Again

        April 6 is National Tartan Day. This is an official national holiday which kicks off Tartan Week. National Tartan Day honors all the Scottish heritage that flows through this nation. From its earliest beginnings, Americans with Scottish ancestry endeavored for that freedom as much as any American.  It was in their …

Continue reading

April 6: National Tartan Day

NATIONAL TARTAN DAY April 6 is National Tartan Day. This is an official national holiday. April 6th has been designated as National Tartan Day, a day for celebrating Scottish heritage and pride. The New York Tartan Day Parade is usually held the Saturday nearest Tartan Day. The 2017 18th Annual New York Tartan Day Parade …

Continue reading

Found on Facebook

  From My Heart Will Always be in Scotland Wha’s like us? The average Englishman, in the home he calls his castle, slips into his national costume, a shabby raincoat, patented by chemist Charles Macintosh from Glasgow, Scotland. En route to his office he strides along the English lane, surfaced by John Macadam of Ayr, …

Continue reading

Burns Night

  Burns Night commemorates the life of the bard (poet) Robert Burns, who was born on January 25, 1759.     The day also celebrates Burns’ contribution to Scottish culture. Burns’ best known work is “Auld Lang Syne”. We were at the Edinburgh Tattoo for this performance but I didn’t take this video.     …

Continue reading

Greyfriar’s Bobby

  When we were in Scotland last year, we walked to Edinburgh Castle and back from hotel a couple times. I had never heard of Greyfriar’s Bobby until our bus tour the second day although we had walked by the statue 3 times already! On our 4th pass-by, we saw several people taking pictures of …

Continue reading

St. Andrew is Back!

  In Scotland, and many countries with Scottish connections, St Andrew’s Day is marked with a celebration of Scottish culture with traditional Scottish food, music and dance. Schools across Scotland hold special St Andrew’s Day events and activities including art shows, Scottish country dancing, lunchtime Ceilidhs, dance festivals, storytelling, reciting and writing poems, writing tall …

Continue reading

Remembering our Veterans

I’m not sure how Veterans Day turned into a day to sell stuff, but then, most every holiday has turned into a day for stores to run “sales”.  Possibly, the original intent was to give our veterans a break but it has sure morphed away from that. Veterans Day is supposed to be a day …

Continue reading

How Scotland invented Halloween – The Scotsman

IT SOUNDS like a bold claim to make, but evidence suggests that, if not for Scotland, Halloween would not exist – at least not as the world knows it.In medieval times, the 31st of October was the last day of the old Celtic calendar. Scots druids referred to it as Samhuinn, a term which loosely …

Continue reading

Load more