Scottish Culture

The rich Scotland culture has gone through many changes. Scotland was mostly inhabited by the Celtic decedents in the Scottish Highlands. Scots dominated the Southern part of the country. Mostly the Scots are smart and vigilant. There is some influence of the Nordic and Anglo Saxon people on the culture of Scotland. The church going majority in Scotland are the members of the Scotland church. The Scottish people always had a thirst for learning. Farmers called crofters live on the north western coastal region of Scotland. They live in houses built of pebbles and stones. Apart from farming the people are interested in forestry, cottage industries and road work. The Highlands are famous for more than 100 clans and these groups of people are famous for sports and athletic shows. There are also some Bagpipers and Highland dancers. Scottish culture, like that of the many of Northern European nations (for example Ireland & England), has been described as a pub culture or drinking culture, whereby consumption of alcohol has deep rooted tradition - along with pride of working class heritage, which is common in all of Britain.

 

Rules of etiquette are situational, affected by status, class, and familiarity. An initial reserve toward strangers is likely to be heightened if one party is of higher status. However, friendliness and verbal politeness are expected in everyday life. Light, humorous banter, often about soccer, facilitates such interactions. The notion that Scots are more friendly and open than the English is common. Similarly, many believe that people are more friendly in Glasgow than in Edinburgh. Two somewhat ritualized markers of politeness are the offering of tea, coffee, and sweets to house visitors and taking turns buying rounds of drinks at a pub. The more you know before you go, the better impression you can give of your company and of your home country.

 

Scots and Kilts

There are two things you must never, ever do in your professional or social interactions with the Scottish people. The first is to incorrectly refer to them as "Scotch". Scotch is an alcoholic beverage. The people of Scotland are called Scots or Scotsmen. The second taboo is to incorrectly refer to their kilts as "skirts." Kilts are worn by both sexes and it's not uncommon to see Scottish businessmen wearing kilts and jackets to work or meetings. The formal version of Scottish attire is also often worn instead of a tuxedo at dressy events. Resist the temptation to ask a Scotsman what he is wearing under his kilt; this would be as rude as asking a total stranger what kind (if any) underwear he's wearing. Scots are as proud of their distinctive wardrobe as they are of their spirited heritage and do not take kindly to individuals who make jokes about either one.

 

Gestures and Eye Contact

Although the Scots use very few hand gestures when talking, they'll pay close attention to yours. (And that goes for finger gestures that some people use to express vexation.) A person whose hands are a flurry of activity as they explain something may be perceived as trying to create distractions from the subject being discussed. This, in turn, can lead to distrust. Be careful, too, that if you make a "V" sign with your index and third fingers to communicate peace or victory that your palm is facing outward, not inward. The sign made with the hand facing inward is taken the same as raising the middle finger alone is in the United States. As for the face, the Scots place a lot of weight on a person's ability to maintain eye contact while they're talking and listening. This conveys sincerity and interest in the other party's feelings and opinions. Just make sure you don't turn it into a hard stare that could make them feel uncomfortable.

 

Social Behaviour

If you have a natural tendency to talk loudly, dial it down when you're socializing with Scots. This is especially important in public settings such as restaurants and lobbies. If you're talking too loudly, you're not only drawing attention to yourself but also to your Scottish hosts and they'll consider this bit of embarrassment to be offensive. Nor should you engage in lots of interrupting during a conversation; you'll be perceived as a bully who is trying to impose his own views without thoroughly considering the other party's position. Politeness is paramount with the Scots and they eschew confrontation in business settings. Unless and until you're invited to address colleagues by their first names, use Mr., Ms., Dr., or Sir (the latter distinguishing those who have been knighted by the queen). Never ascribe a plucky nickname or shorten a name (i.e., "Joe" instead of "Joseph"). Also, be extremely punctual if you have been given a time. Adhere to it. The Scots expect and appreciate punctuality.

 

Gift Giving

Although gifts aren't typically exchanged during a first meeting, it's appropriate to bring a tasteful present. Ideally this will be something that was mentioned in earlier conversations as being a desired/admired item. (It shows you were paying attention.) Appropriate gifts include autographed or rare books, collector items, art, or gourmet baskets. Exercise caution, though, that an expensive gift won't be interpreted as a future expectation of a favour. Always send a written (not emailed) thank-you. If a business associate invites you to his home for dinner, bring a nice bottle of wine as a token of your appreciation. A host will always offer the first toast; as a guest, you'll be expected to reciprocate and offer a toast of your own.

 

Here are some general cultural norms :

1. It is also rude to turn down a drink if someone offers you one or not to buy a round of drinks when out with a group (everyone takes turns buying drinks for everyone else in the group).

2. It is considered extremely rude to jump the queue.

3. Politeness is highly valued. You’ll often find yourself exchanging four or five “thank yous” during a transaction with shopkeeper. If you bump into someone, they will usually apologize to you. Expect a lot of "please" and "thank you" and "sorry".

 

4. It’s acceptable for women to dine alone and to go to local pubs and clubs.

5. Penalties for possession, acquisition, and trafficking of drugs are severe and include mandatory lengthy imprisonment in local jails.