Scottish Identity

First things first: Scots are Scots, not English. Ignoring this distinction is one of the surest ways to become unpopular in a Scottish pub. Scotland is a distinct nation within the United Kingdom — with its own legal system, education system, church, parliament, and a national pride honed through centuries of interaction with the large southern neighbor.

Clan Culture

The Clans (from Gaelic "clann" = children, family) were the social and political backbone of the Highlands. Each clan had its chief, its territory, its tartan (checkered pattern), and its motto. The clans were simultaneously families, armies, and political parties. Although the clan system was dismantled in 1746 after Culloden, it lives on in Scottish identity: MacDonalds, Campbells, Stewarts, MacLeods — the names still carry meaning and sometimes old rivalries today.

Humor

Scottish humor is dry, black, and self-deprecating. Scots laugh at themselves (their weather, their stinginess, their drinking habits) and expect you to join in. Sarcasm is the standard mode of communication. Billy Connolly, Glasgow's greatest export, embodies this humor perfectly: rough, vulgar, brilliant, and deeply human.