Scottish Traditions

[Cygnus]

As many of you know, I am the proud (and usually happy) father of two children who are still quite young. This, really, means that my own family is still young and, though my wife and I carry on some of the traditions we were raised with, we're still finding and making our own traditions.
My wife's grandfather was born in Germany and came to the US in his teens. I've taken time to talk to him, write down the songs he sings (as best as my high-school-level German allows), and keep some of the traditions that are important to him.
I've been looking through old journal entries from my side of the family, the vast majority of which is Scottish. From these entries, it's obvious that we've lost a great many traditions in the 150 years since leaving Scotland behind (though it's interesting that, even here, Scottish descendants kept finding and marrying other Scottish descendants in my family tree). It makes me sad to see the lack of Scottish traditions in my family when I see how alive the German traditions are in my wife's family.

So, with the desire to return to my roots still burning strong, what traditions do you recommend for a young father trying to revive his family's nearly-forgotten Scottish heritage?

This post is mostly directed to those still living in Scotland, though I'd like to hear from anyone still keeping Scottish traditions.

And thank you, as always, for your responses.

[fendigaid.:]

i have found that many traditions that i simply chose, turned out to be from somewhere in my ancients past, without realizing it at the time. it's amazing what our own dna makeup can teach us if we truly listen. i would always use the celtic spirals on my left hand, and one day found the celtic ring that had those same celtic spirals. also the celtic tree of life is quite interesting. as well as the celtic triads/x 3. and of course, theres the X that marks the spot, for in our heraldry we found the X aka st andrew's cross, represented how many walls our scotsmen scaled in battle, thus on one of ours it held 8X's thus representing 8 walls scaled in battle(s). then there are the prose of edda, or the poetry of edda, are quite nice. or the ballymote. i learned more of one specific ancient in our lineage, uther pendragon, and why it is that he came with the surname of pendragon, which is more of a title at that time, actually.:0) it had something to do with nam pyr, no NOT vam pyr(e), but nam pyr, name of fire, or chief.:0) well, i have the full story on this somewhere, and i am just using it here, as an example of some traditions that many scots may share together, whether direct line(age) or not.:0) it all leads to the same mark/X.:0) then i read more about bran fendigaid in our line(age), which is quite interesting. as well as aed edward mawr, for i then learned that mawr was a title and not a name.:0) well, i don't want to spoil it for you, as you will find it fun, when you just start your search for traditions, in a name.:0) ciao, fendigaid.:

[campbell]

Some common traditions are:

1. Having a family Burns supper which includes eating Haggis and wearing tartan, in January, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burns_supper

2. Wearing tartan or the kilt for Christmas and Easter dinner.

3. Celebrating St. Andrew's Day in November. see: http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch...hs/andrew.html

Some families attend their local Highland Games in the summer, but this is not really a tradition. Also, some families are involved in Scottish Country Dancing. http://www.rscds.org/

Those who have wealth are often active in their local St. Andrews Society. Here is the link to the New York chapter: http://www.standrewsny.org/

[Cygnus]

Thank you for the suggestions!

The Burns Supper is something I've been working towards, so we'll see how it goes this year.

I'll do my best to get my wife to wear tartan for Christmas (the kids will be easy).

Is there anything in particular that Scots do on St. Andrew's day? I'm especially looking for commemorative activities in which children can participate.

How does a Scottish Christmas or Easter differ from the same holidays in the US and Canada? I imagine a lot of the traditions of Great Britain were brought over, but I have little doubt that some have been neglected...

And thank you, once again, for your responses!

[ctbuchanan]

I agree with everything Campbell has posted. We are first generation US (my Mum was born in Scotland, my Da in Yorkshire) so we have some strong traditions particular to Scotland. But your family is more removed so I would 'create' traditions more in line with modern U.S. living.

Pick a highland games you can get to each year and make a special event of it. If you can pick up some tartan so much the better, but even a t-shirt of your clan for the kids will make them feel a part of it.

St. Andrews in November and Robbie Burns days are also a good way to mark your heritage. On major holidays you may have some conflict but not necessarily. My wife is 100% Polish so Christmas Eve is Polish but Christmas Day we are all about the Tartan and we all wear it. Easter is a very big day in Poland so.... Polish. But we march in the Tartan Day Parade in New York City every year. You get the idea.

Then of course read them some history - get children's books when they are young about the Clan's, Robert the Bruce etc. I can provide you with some titles if you like. As they get older maybe Sir Walter Scott. Mine loved it as much as the Harry Potter books.

I like your approach though, it is important to keep them in touch with their roots.

Dave B.

[ctbuchanan]

About Christmas - my Mum's family was Church of Scotland and the Scots were notorious for not over celebrating. Oatcakes are a tradition though. Because my Dad was a Yorkshireman we did more "English" traditions for Christmas. Wassail, Christmas Pudding, Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding etc. but we wore the great Buchanan Tartan - perfect for Christmas.

The Scots are BIG on Hogmanay or New Years - music, parties, fireworks, concerts etc. So you can do a big New Years Eve thing.

St. Andrews is the quiet 'holiday', going to church of course and be sure to fly the Saltire Cross of St. Andrews.
Robbie Burns is usually about a nice formal dinner and haggis! :-D which the kids will LOVE of course!

[Cygnus]

Thanks, CTBuchannan!

The titles of those children's books would be great. I'm also working on putting some family stories in children's book format so the kids know their heritage a bit better.

We have a German dinner on Christmas though we have nothing but the usual "find the eggs and go to church" Easter. Surprisingly enough, the roast and Yorkshire pudding meal is a tradition that has survived from an English ancestor that I had. Apparently one of my Grandfather's "requirements" for my grandmother when they got married was that she learn to make a good roast and Yorkshire pudding with gravy!

[Jock Scot]

Some common traditions are:

1. Having a family Burns supper which includes eating Haggis and wearing tartan, in January, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burns_supper

2. Wearing tartan or the kilt for Christmas and Easter dinner.

3. Celebrating St. Andrew's Day in November. see: http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch...hs/andrew.html

Some families attend their local Highland Games in the summer, but this is not really a tradition. Also, some families are involved in Scottish Country Dancing. http://www.rscds.org/

Those who have wealth are often active in their local St. Andrews Society. Here is the link to the New York chapter: http://www.standrewsny.org/

Do we? I am not at all sure that we do!

Perhaps we locals take things for granted, or perhaps we are too close to it all to notice if it is a tradition.

[AFS1970]

I agree with finding a Highland Games and going to it annually. Just about the only notable Scottish related tradition I grew up with was going to the Round Hill Games in Stamford (After they moved from Round Hill but before they moved to Norwalk). As I got older and got a job that included working on holidays and weekends, I missed a few and have not been there for years. Those games still hold fond childhood memories for me.

As for what to do to celebrate different days. I would think that in the case of days about people (Saint Andrew and Robert Burns) teaching a bit about who the people were and what made them notable should be a part of the celebration. Be forewarned that on church calendars, some days often fall together and Saint Andrew's Day is rarely celebrated as such. The last Sunday in November is often the First Sunday in Advent which is more important in the life of the church. However, there are numerous Scottish themed church services offered, many of which seem to not have much to do with any particular day. I know there is one in October in my city and one in may in the next town over. In New York City, there is one in April that coincides with the day of the Parade. So there are chances to combine church with Scottish culture, you just have to find them if you so desire.

Also one need not be wealthy to join the Saint Andrew's Society. I was a member of the one in CT for a number of years and while I am not poor, I am certainly not wealthy. I enjoyed my time there, but for various reasons let my membership lapse.

[ctbuchanan]

Do we? I am not at all sure that we do!

Perhaps we locals take things for granted, or perhaps we are too close to it all to notice if it is a tradition.

@Jock - I can't tell where Campbell is living now, but by his post it looks that he is speaking more to what is done here in the US to observe our heritage. I have to agree with you, for the most part my Scottish cousins think us a bit strange for what we do.