peat added to the whisky's flavour. Big modern distillers use basically the

same technique. The vapor that rises in the still is condensed by cooling

to make whisky. The shape of the still affects the vapor and so helps to

give the whisky its taste. The most important single influence on the taste

of Scotch whisky is probably the Scottish water. This is why distilleries

are situated in narrow glens or in remote country near a tumbling stream.

The whisky comes colorless and fiery from the spirit receiver. In the

spirit vat it is diluted to about 110 degrees proof before being run into

oak casks to mature. Today, 100 degrees proof spirit by British standards

is spirit with 37.1 per cent of alcohol by volume, and 42.9 per cent of

water.

Scotch whisky cannot legally be sold for consumption until it has

matured in casks for at least three years. The time a whisky takes to

mature depends on the size of the casks used, the strength at which the

spirit is stored and the temperature and humidity of the warehouse. A good

malt whisky may have been left in the cask for 15 years, or even longer.

Air enters the oak casks and evaporation takes place. Eventually, the

whisky loses its coarseness and becomes smooth and mellow.

There are more than 100 distilleries in Scotland and the whisky made in

each has its own distinctive character. Some distilleries bottle part of

their spirit and sell it as a single whisky; but most whiskies go to a

blender. As many as 40 different single whiskies may be blended to make up

the whisky that is eventually sold. So specifically associated with

Scotland has whisky he-come that the mere adjective SCOTCH requires no

noun to be supplied in order that people should know what is meant.

Burns Night (25 January)

The anniversary of the poet's birth, is celebrated in every corner of

Scotland, and indeed wherever a handful of Scots is to be found. There are

hundreds of Burns Clubs scattered throughout the world, and they all

endeavour to hold Burns Night celebrations to mark the birth of Scotland's

greatest poet. The first club was founded at Greenock in 1802. The

traditional menu at the suppers is cock-a-leekie soup (chicken broth),

boiled salt herring, haggis with bashed neeps (turnips), and champit

tatties (mashed potatoes) and dessert. The arrival of the haggis is

usually heralded by the music of bagpipes. The haggis is carried into the

dining room behind a piper wearing traditional dress. He then reads a poem

written especially for the haggis! "The Immortal Memory" is toasted, and

the company stand in silent remembrance. Then fellows dancing, pipe music,

and selections from Burns's lyrics, the celebration concluding with the

poet's famous Auld tang Syne.

Loch Ness and the Monster

Whatever it is that stirs in Loch Ness, it is no newcomer. An

inscription on a fourteenth-century map of the loch tells vaguely but

chillingly of "waves without wind, fish without fins, islands that float".

"Monster" sightings are not limited to Loch Ness: Lochs Awe, Rannoch,

Lomond and Morar have all been said to contain specimens. The Loch Ness

Monster owes its great fame to the opening of a main road along the north

shore of the loch in 1933. Since then, distant views of "four shining black

humps", "brownish-gray humps" have kept visitors flocking to the loch.

People who have seen the phenomenon more closely say that it is "slug-like"

or "eel-like", with a head resembling a seal's or a gigantic snail's, while

the long neck is embellished with a horse's mane. Its length has been

estimated at anything between 8 and 23 metres, and its skin texture la

"warty" and "slimy". Close observers, too, particularly Hr George Spicer

and his wife who saw it jerking across a lochside road in 1933, have

declared it "fearful".

It is not surprising that such waters, cupped in savage hills, should

produce legends. Loch Ness is part of the Great Glen, a geological fault

that slashes across Scotland like a sword-cut. The loch itself is 24 miles

long, about a mile broad and has an average depth of 400 feet. Loch Ness

has one direct outlet to the sea, the shallow River Ness, and it is fed by

eight rivers and innumerable streams, each of which pours the peaty soil of

the hills into the loch. Consequently, the water is dark. Divers working

with powerful arc lamps 15 metres below the surface have been unable to see

for more than 3 metres around them.

Over the past 40 years, sightings have been claimed by more than 1000

people. Most of the sightings were in bright sunlight conditions of flat

calm, and several of the witnesses were trained observers - soldiers,

doctors, seamen. Though many of the sightings were from a distance,

witnesses have been convinced they were looking at a large animal, most of

whose body was hidden beneath the water.

If it exists, it is most unlikely that the Loch Ness monster is a

single animal. A prehistoric creature, living alone in Loch Ness, cut off

from others of its kind, would have to be millions of years old. For the

species to survive there must be quite a large colony. The colony theory

is also supported by nearly simultaneous sightings in different parts of

the loch. According to naturalists, the chances of the creature being a

reptile are remote. Though Loch Ness never freezes, its temperature never

rises above 6°C and this would be too cold for any known species. Also,

reptiles breathe air, and would have to surface more frequently than the

monster appears to. Though most zoologists deny the possibility that a

large and unknown animal might be living in Loch Ness, it is remarkable

that the mystery continues; and it is perhaps more exciting than any final

scientific solution.

Scottish Weddings

Everybody knows about Gretna Green, the famous Scottish village just

beyond the border. In the old days runaway couples escaped from England to

Gretna Green to get married. The practice started in the year 1774. In that

year a bill was passed in England forbidding marriages of person under

eighteen without their parents’ consent. In Scotland the legal age limit

was sixteen - and still is for that matter. What is more, until the year

1856 the young couple could be married at once at any place in Scotland,

without having to stay there for some time.

You may ask why all those young people chose Gretna Green for their

wedding. After all, there are many romantic places in Scotland. The answer

is simple. Gretna Green was the nearest village across the Scottish border,

only ten miles of Carlisle, on the main highway. To get there took the

least time and the least money.

The blacksmith at Gretna Green was always ready to perform the marriage

ceremony at a small fee. The formalities were very simple. All that was

needed was a declaration made by the young couple in the presence of two

witnesses. Visitors of Gretna Green can still see the old blacksmith’s

shop and the famous marriage room in it.

The old tradition is still remembered. Many young couples who cannot

get married in England because they are under age still think it romantic

to go to Gretna Green. But today they must have enough money to stay there

for three weeks.

Highland Games

Perhaps the most distinctive event at a Highland Gathering is “Tossing

the Caber” - or, as the sixteenth-century writer called it, “throwing the

bar”. The caber is the trunk - of a fir tree 20 feet long and ten inches

(25 cm) thick at the bigger end. Its weight is about 100 kilos and it needs

two or three men to lift it upright with the thick end at the top. The

competitor then lakes hold of it and rests it against his shoulder. He

takes two or three steps and then throws it so that it turns a complete

somersault. The straightest throw, that is nearest to 12 o’clock in

direction, gets the most points. If none of the competitors is able to toss

the caber, a bit is sawn off the end, and then, if necessary, another bit,

until at last one competitor succeeds.

Another feat of strength is throwing the hammer. This has a long handle

and weighs ten kilos. The competitor is not allowed to run, he stands still

and sweeps it round and round his head several times.

For all events, except races, the kilt must be worn. For highland

dances, of which there are many varieties, the competitors wear full

highland dress. This includes a smart jacket worn with coloured buttons and

a “sporran” or purse made of fur, which hangs at the waist. The mast

difficult and intricate of the dances is the sword-dance, performed over a

pair of crossed swords which must not be touched by the dancer’s feet.

Wales

Wales is the country in the west of Great Britain. It is mainly a

mountainous land with a chiefly agricultural economy and an industrial and

coal-mining area in the south. The landscape is beautiful. Many English

people move to Wales when they retire.

Cardiff, a large city in the south, was chosen as the capital of Wales

in 1955, mainly because of its size. Since 1536, Wales has been governed by

England and the heir to the throne of England has the title of Prince of

Wales, but Welsh people have strong sense of identity. There is a Welsh

National party which wants independence from the United Kingdom and the

Welsh language is still used in certain parts of the country.

Welsh is an ancient Celtic language, similar to Breton, spoken in

Brittany, France. In the 60’s Welsh was given equal status with English as

an official language and is used in the law courts. It is taught in school

and some TV program is broadcast in Welsh. However, only about 20% of the

population speaks Welsh.

St. David’s Day (1st March)

Dewi (“David” in English), was the son of a Welsh chieftain. He was

brought up as a Christian and went abroad to learn more about the life of a

monk. Then he returned to Wales and founded many monasteries which became

centers of religion and learning in the Welsh countryside. The monks lived

a simple life of player, growing their own herbs and vegetables and

offering generous hospitality to anyone in need. Because David’s holiness

and his inspiring teaching, he was made a bishop. The center of his

bishopric was in the settlement we now know as St. David’s on the Western

tip of the country of Dyfed.

David is thought to have died on 1st march, AD 589, and his shrine at

St. David’s was a place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages. Later, when

people of North and South Wales became one nation, he was chosen as the

patron saint of Wales.

A legend tells how David suggested that his people should wear a leek

in their bonnets during battles so that they could be easily recognized;

Welsh Guards are still distinguished by a green and white plume in their

black bearskins. At Windsor, on the Sunday nearest St. David’s day, it is

now a tradition that every member of the Brigade of Welsh Guards is given a

leek by a member of the Royal Family. However, as St. David’ Day is

celebrated at the beginning of Spring when daffodils, are blooming, this

flower has become a second, more graceful emblem of Wales. David’s own

emblem is a dove.

It is said that David had a sweet singing voice. He encouraged his

monks to sing as well as possible for the glory of God, and perhaps this

was the beginning of the Welsh tradition of fine made-voice choirs.

Many churches are dedicated to David in southwest Wales, and if you are

traveling there, you might visit the cathedral at St. David’s. Other places

too are called after the saint, and you may visit Llandewi or Capel Dewi or

Ffynor Dewi

The Welsh "national" costume

Seen on the dolls and postcards is largely a myth created for tourism.

Certainly, the seventeenth-century country women wore long coloured skirts,

a white apron and a tall black hat, but so did English women at that time.

In the nineteenth century, the idea of a national costume was born and this

pleased both tourists and locals, although there is no evidence at all of a

long-lost costume.

The Welsh Eisteddfodau

No country in the world has a greater love of music and poetry than the

people of Wales. Today, Eisteddfodau are held at scores of places

throughout Wales, particularly from May to early November. The habit of

holding similar events dates back to early history, and there are records

of competitions for Welsh poets and musicians in the twelfth century. The

Eisteddfod sprang from the National Assembly of Bards. It was held

occasionally up to 1B19, but since then has become an annual event for the

encouragement of Welsh literature and music and the preservation of the

Welsh language and ancient national customs.

The Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales is held annually early in

August, its actual venue varying from year to year. It attracts Welsh

people from all over the world. The programme Includes male and mixed

choirs, brass-band concerts, many children's events, drama, arts and crafts

and, of course, the ceremony of the Crowning of the Bard.

Next in importance is the great Llangollen International Music

Eisteddfod. held early in July and attended by competitors from many

countries, all wearing their picturesque and often colourful national

costumes. It is an event probably without parallel anywhere in the world.

There are at least twenty-five other major Eisteddfodau from May to

November. In addition to the Eisteddfodau, about thirty major Welsh Singing

festivals are held throughout Wales during the same period of time.

Lovespoons

Lovespoons were given by suitors to their sweethearts in Wales from the

seventeenth to the early nineteenth century. The custom of giving

lovespoons died out in the nineteenth century but they continued to be

carved especially in some country districts. Making lovespoons became

something of an art form and woodwork competitions and Eisteddfoday often

had examples of the genre.

In recent years, interest in lovespoons has reawakened and many people

seek them out as desirable keepsakes. Visitors to Wales, particularly from

overseas, wanting something uniquely Welsh to remind them of their visit

often choose a lovespoon. There is also a growing tendency for Welsh people

themselves to give lovespoons as gifts to commemorate special occasions — a

new baby, a birthday, an impending marriage, a retirement or to celebrate a

success of some kind. Lovespoons also make excellent Christmas presents.

Today, when most people have neither the tine nor the inclination to carve

their own lovespoons, the accepted practice is to buy a ready-made example

of the craft or to commission one of the woodcarver specialists to make

one.

Since pre-history, beautiful, hand-carved objects have had ceremonial,

romantic and religious significance: long incense and cosmetic spoons, for

example, have survived from Egyptian times. In the Middle Ages, a pair of

knives in a sheath was considered a worthy gift and it was common for a

bridegroom to present his bride with one: such sets were known as "wedding

knives".

The history of kitchen utensils and the spoon belongs to Western

culture. The history of the lovespoon belongs to Welsh romantic folklore.

From the mid-seventeenth century, lovespoons were carved from wood in

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