A Scotch pie is a double-crust pie filled with minced mutton, often highly spiced with pepper and other ingredients. In Aberdeen and in Dundee it is quite often known as mince pie, to differentiate it from other types of pie such as steak pie, steak-and-kidney pie, steak-and-tattie pie and so on. You can try it with a side dish, such as mashed potatoes, baked beans, brown sauce or gravy.
As in every part of the United Kingdom, this is the most traditional fast food in Scotland as well. Deep-fried battered fish is the standard choice but you can also order it in breadcrumbs. Cod and haddock are the most popular fishes, but you can also order white (oatmeal and pork sausage) or black (blood sausage) pudding with your chips.
And if you visit a ‘chippie’, definitely you´ll have to try a deep fried Mars bar!
If you come to Scotland, you will try this typical dish. But, you have to have a strong stomach!
Scottish people like to tell a story when a foreigner asks them what a haggis is: ‘A haggis is a small, furry four-legged creature whose stumpy limbs are shorter on one side than the other, making it perfect for running around the peaks of Scottish mountains (its most common habitat) in one direction only’. As you suppose, no, that isn´t a haggis, but I think is better that you try some haggis with neeps and tatties (turnips and potatos) and don’t think about its composition. It’s really really tasty!
English breakfast is very well known all around the world, but what´s happened with the Scottish one? You can try this glorious breakfast in many pubs and B&Bs, formed by bacon and egg, but typically with the addition of local favourites such as black pudding (blood sausage) and potato scones. Porridge is another option, made with cooked oatmeal and sprinkle on some sugar.
Other popular sports in Scotland are curling (it's said that this sport was invented in Scotland in the sixteenth century), cycling, basketball and shinty, a traditional game similar to hockey.
Finally, the Highlands Games: sport plays an important role in Scottish culture and every year, from May to September, there are traditional events to celebrate Scottish and Gaelic culture, which include music, dance competitions, and sporting events.
Rugby is very popular, especially rugby "sevens" which began to be practiced in Melrose. The Scottish national rugby union team take part in the Six Nations and have a great rivalry with England. Scotland also participate in the Rugby World Cup, which takes place every four years.
Football has a long tradition: the Scottish national football team is the oldest in the world together with England and the national Stadium is Hampden Park in Glasgow. In the Scottish Premier League, the most important and successful clubs over the years have been Celtic and Rangers, the two Glasgow clubs known as the " Old Firm".
