SCOTLAND
NAME: LOCATION: GOVERNMENT: OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: MAJOR RELIGION(S): MAJOR ETHNICGROUPS:
Scotland Europe Constitutional Monarchy (part of the United Kingdom) English, Scottish Gaelic. Christian (Anglican, Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist). Small minorities of Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and others. Predominantly white.
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For Men- It depends on the working culture of the company. Men may wear suits or just dress shirts and trousers. They may or may not wear a tie.
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For Women- Women will often wear trousers and a blouse or sweater depending on the season. They may also wear a skirt or dress, but it will usually not be too short. SOCIALIZING
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The pub is the main social meeting place for university students. Some will also go to clubs because most pubs close between 11pm-1am. House/flat parties are also common. Most people drink alcohol but it is perfectly acceptable to be a non-drinker. Smoking became somewhat less acceptable after the smoking ban came into affect in 2006 (you can’t smoke in any enclosed places anymore). It is not polite to be drunk in public but it’s very common. While men tend to do the asking, it’s acceptable for women to ask men on dates as well. A good first date might involve going out for a meal, going to a pub or seeing a movie. Usually the man will pay for the first date.
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GREETINGS Man greeting Man - Men shake hands when greeting one another and usually throw in a "How do you do". Handshakes are usually on the lighter side and don't linger that much. In more casual situations, men often greet each other with, “You alright?” or “Hiya”. Woman greeting Woman- At a first meeting, women generally shake hands. Greetings between Men & Women - At a first meeting a regular handshake will do. Women tend to extend their hand first.
HOGMANAY Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year (Gregorian calendar) in the Scottish manner. It is, however, normally only the start of a celebration which lasts through the night until the morning of New Year's Day (1 January) or, in some cases, 2 January which is a Scottish Bank Holiday.
Origins The roots of Hogmanay perhaps reach back to the celebration of the winter solstice among the Norse, as well as incorporating customs from the Gaelic celebration of Samhain. TheVikings celebrated Yule, which later contributed to the Twelve Days of Christmas, or the "Daft Days" as they were sometimes called in Scotland. The winter festival went underground with the Protestant Reformation and ensuing years, but reemerged near the end of the 17th century.
Customs There are many customs, both national and local, associated with Hogmanay. The most widespread national custom is the practice of 'first-footing' which starts immediately after midnight. This involves being the first person to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour and often involves the giving of symbolic gifts such as salt (less common today), coal,shortbread, whisky, and black bun (a rich fruit cake) intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder. Food and drink (as the gifts) are then given to the guests. This may go on throughout the early hours of the morning and well into the next day (although modern days see people visiting houses well into the middle of January). The first-foot is supposed to set the luck for the rest of the year. Traditionally, tall dark men are preferred as the first-foot.