If you don’t know much about Scotland aside from the stereotypes that we’ve all heard before, you might be wondering which ones, if any, are actually true. So Sara Jayasuriya, a Glasgow local, wrote a piece for her blog Hey Explorer breaking down how much truth is behind some common Scottish stereotypes. One that she mentions is that there are redheads everywhere, which actually does have some truth to it. She notes that, despite redheads making up only 2% of the world’s population, they do account for 13% of Scotland. So they’re not the dominant color, but you’re definitely likely to see more of them there than many other countries!
Another stereotype you might assume about Scotland is that Scots eat haggis all the time. Haggis, a savory pudding made of oatmeal, spices and sheep organs, is the country’s national dish, but Sara explains that it’s usually not eaten more than once a week. In fact, about 40% of Scots don’t even like it!
And if you’d expect to see men wearing kilts everywhere you go when visiting Scotland, you might be disappointed. “Kilts are still a special part of Scottish heritage, but they’re actually not worn frequently anymore,” Sara explains. “They’re typically reserved for special occasions like weddings, ceilidhs (traditional dancing parties), and sometimes football games for a show of patriotism.”
We hope you’re enjoying this celebration of Scottish humor, pandas. Whether you’re ready to go searching for the Loch Ness Monster or not, it’s nice to know you can always channel your inner Scot on Reddit or Twitter to appreciate the nation’s incredible sense of humor. Keep upvoting the pics that give you a craving for haggis, and let us know in the comments below what your favorite thing about the beautiful nation of Scotland is. Then, if you’re interested in laughing at even more hilarious tweets from Scots, be sure to check out Bored Panda’s last article on the same topic right here!
#33 Train Rides
#37 I Want This To Be Real
