St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, and the attractive seaside town of St Andrews on the east coast also bears his name. According to legend, the relics of St Andrew were brought here in the 8th century and a shrine was established, dedicated to the saint. The church of St Rule was built around 1130, and the tower, which still stands tall today, would have served as a beacon for pilgrims heading to worship at the shrine. (For the cost of a few pounds you can climb the tower – the views over the bay are magnificent!).
The growth in the number of pilgrims meant that a new, larger church was required, and work started on St Andrews Cathedral in 1160. This building work was to last over 150 years, as it was frequently interrupted by war, winter storms, and fire, before the cathedral was eventually consecrated in 1318. By then it was by far the largest church in Scotland and the ecclesiastical centre of the country. As one of only two places in the whole of Europe where you could worship at the relics of an apostle of Jesus Christ (the other being Santiago di Compostella in Spain), St Andrews became an important site of pilgrimage for thousands of medieval pilgrims.
Abandoned after the Protestant Reformation of 1560, the church fell to ruins. Today these imposing ruins tower over the North Sea, a testament to what was once the most important religious site in Scotland.
I use all of these, all the time! My granny used to tell me I was “as thrawn as a bag o’ weasels” when I was a wee girl 😂💙🏴The Scots language has words for things no other language bothered to name.
Dreich — that specific grey, damp, miserable weather that isn't quite rain but isn't quite not rain either. The English say "overcast." The Scots say dreich, which sounds exactly like it feels.
Thrawn — stubborn in a particular way. Not just obstinate. Twisted, contrary, determined to do it the wrong way on purpose. There is no English equivalent because English speakers apparently gave up trying to describe this personality type.
Glaikit — vacant. Dopey. The expression on someone's face when the lights are on but nobody is home.
Couthie — warm, friendly, comfortable in a homely way. The feeling of a kitchen that smells like baking and has a dog asleep by the fire.
Wheesht — be quiet. But with feeling. Haud yer wheesht is the full version, and it means be quiet right now and I mean it.
Scunnered — utterly fed up. Beyond tired of something. A level of exasperation English doesn't have a single word for.
Every language reveals the priorities of the people who speak it.
Scottish priorities, apparently, include very specific weather, very specific stubbornness, and very specific silence.
Which one is your favorite? 👇
#ScottishHistory #ScottishHeritage #ScotsLanguage #ScottishWords
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Hope everyone has been enjoying the antics of the Tartan Army over in Boston for the World Cup! Glad to see the Glasgow tradition of putting cones on statues is alive and well across the pond 😂⚽️🏴The Scottish fans didn't just bring bagpipes and beer to Boston.
They brought traffic cones for the statues too.
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