Table of Contents
Introduction vi
1 What does an Egyptian princess have to do with the birth of Scotland? 2
2 What is the Scottish national anthem? 6
3 Who built Hadrian's Wall and why? 12
4 Why is Andrew the patron saint of Scotland? 17
5 Why is the thistle the floral emblem of Scotland? 23
6 What is Gaelic? 28
7 Who was the real Macbeth? 35
8 What is the Stone of Destiny? 43
9 Why is William Wallace a national hero to the Scots? 46
10 Did a spider really inspire Robert the Bruce to victory against the English at Bannockburn? 50
11 Why is Scotland known as the "Home of Golf"? 54
12 Why is there an Aberdeen, a Dundee, and a Glasgow in the United States? 60
13 When does a broth become Scotch broth? 68
14 Who was Mary, Queen of Scots? 73
15 How do you make traditional Scottish shortbread? 78
16 What are the Honours of Scotland? 83
17 How did the Scottish national flag become the basis of the Union Flag of the British Isles? 86
18 Was Rob Roy really a Scottish Robin Hood? 89
19 When did the lion and the unicorn fight for the crown, and what does this have to do with Bonnie Prince Charlie? 95
20 How do you play the bagpipes? 101
21 What are the Scottish Highlands? 106
22 Why is tartan so important to the Scots? 111
23 What does a Scotsman wear under his kilt, and what does he keep in his sporran? 118
24 What does a hamburger giant have to do with the Scottish clans? 122
25 How do you make a haggis? 127
26 Why do Scots celebrate Burns' Night? 131
27 Who lives in Balmoral Castle? 138
28 Is there really a monster living in Loch Ness? 143
29 How do curling and shinty differ? 147
30 Why is King Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh? 152
31 What is malt whisky? 157
32 What does Nova Scotia have to do with Scotland? 162
33 What is Hogmanay, and what does "Auld Lang Syne" really mean? 166
34 Who invented the Macintosh? 171