Generally speaking, the English and the Scots have always got along like a house on fire, but we’ve had our fair share of disagreements. Unfortunately, this often comes down to the English doing things that the Scots aren’t too fond of. Here are 18 things the English do that drive the Scots mad.
Using “British” Instead of “Scottish”
If you really want to upset a Scot, refer to them as British instead of Scottish. Understandably, this irritates them beyond belief. As Understanding Glasgow points out, Scots are fiercely proud of their national identity, and calling them British feels like ignoring their distinct culture and history.
Ignoring Scottish Achievements
The English often overlook Scotland’s contributions to science, culture, politics, and many other areas. Celebrating achievements as solely British without acknowledging Scotland’s role can cause significant annoyance, yet it’s all too common, unfortunately.
Stereotyping Accents
It should go without saying that English people mimicking or making fun of the Scottish accent is a habit that grates on Scots. It feels like a belittling of their regional identity, reducing a rich and varied accent to a punchline. In retaliation, many Scots take great joy in mocking the English accent, always in the BBC style.
Assuming All Scots Drink Whisky
Another thing English people do that drives the Scots mad is assuming that they always love whisky. This can become tiresome; while whisky is a renowned Scottish product, it does not mean every Scot drinks it. Naturally, not all English people are fans of pork pies or tea, either.
Calling New Year’s Eve “New Year”
The Scots have their own New Year’s Eve celebration called Hogmanay, which is a pretty big deal. As a result, when English people refer to it simply as New Year’s Eve, the Scots feel that this disregards their unique traditions. This is only made worse by the fact that they love participating in the Scottish song of Auld Lang Syne.
Mispronouncing Place Names
It drives Scottish people crazy when the English mispronounces Scottish place names. Whether it’s Edinburgh or Loch Ness, getting these names wrong feels disrespectful and shows a lack of effort to understand Scottish geography. At the end of the day, the pronunciation is similar to English, so it’s almost like they do it on purpose.
Overusing Union Jack
You’ll never find a Scot who enjoys seeing the Union Jack excessively displayed, especially in contexts where the Saltire, Scotland’s flag, would be more appropriate. It often feels like an imposition of English identity over Scottish, where, in reality, they’re two separate nations.
Forgetting Scottish Banknotes
Few things drive a Scottish person more insane than when their banknotes aren’t accepted. It’s legal tender throughout the UK, for goodness sake, yet they’re constantly met with suspicion or outright refusal when visiting England. We have no idea how this is still happening today.
Assuming Edinburgh is the Only City
Another thing that grinds the Scottish’s gears is how English tourists always visit Edinburgh but never our other vibrant cities like Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee. Reducing Scotland’s identity to just Edinburgh overlooks the rich diversity of urban life throughout the country. Frankly, Edinburgh feels more English than Scottish.
Making Haggis Jokes
While it might be funny occasionally, constant jokes about haggis, the traditional Scottish dish, can be tiresome. Such remarks often show a lack of understanding and appreciation for Scotland’s culinary heritage, reducing it to a source of humor. If the English simply tried it, they’d stop laughing and start eating.
Overlooking Scottish Sports
It often feels unfair how people focus so heavily on English sports achievements, particularly in football, without including the Scots. Scotland has a very proud sporting history and some seriously prestigious clubs, and overlooking this diminishes what should be a shared passion and pride for sports.
Claiming Famous Scots as British
There are countless famous Scots in history, yet they’re often labeled as British, much to the disappointment of the Scots. This subtle erasure of Scottish identity, particularly for notable figures in science, arts, and literature, feels downright disrespectful.
Mocking Scottish Weather
Okay, we can all admit that Scotland doesn’t exactly have the best weather, but the constant jokes can quickly become grating. Scots are proud of their rugged landscape and its climate, finding such mockery dismissive of their environment. We’ll have you know that in the summer, we have at least one day of sun!
Treating Scotland as a Tourist Destination
There’s nothing wrong with how Scotland’s beauty attracts many tourists, but reducing it to a picturesque destination overlooks the daily lives and modernity of its cities and communities. It feels dehumanizing and patronizing, yet somehow, the English don’t seem to be able to realize that people actually live here.
Assuming Knowledge of English History
English people often assume Scots are as familiar with English history as they are–why would they be!? Scots have their own distinct historical narrative, and this assumption can feel like an imposition of English cultural dominance. We’d bet money that they know nothing about Scottish history.
Patronizing Attitudes
Sadly, Scots are often subject to patronizing comments about politics, economy, or social issues, and it’s deeply irritating. Such attitudes often come across as condescending, undermining the sophisticated and independent political landscape in Scotland. The country has faced enough oppression from Westminster as it is.
Disregarding Scottish Gaelic
The neglect of Scottish Gaelic, an important part of Scotland’s heritage, by the English, can feel like a real punch to the stomach. Recognizing and respecting this ancient language is crucial to acknowledging Scotland’s cultural depth. Worse still, they happily respect Irish and Welsh as languages, yet they seem to have no time for Scottish Gaelic.