The King’s Speech star Helena Bonham Carter met a real-life royal today as she was honoured with a CBE. We have to say how fantastic she looks, decked out in a Vivienne Westwood creation of striking red tartan and miniature top hat. Not many people could pull off this outfit – but Helena looks great! When […]
The Scots are superstitious, and one of our most strongly held beliefs is that of the gift of second sight; the ability to predict events before they occur. Prophets, or seers, are well recorded in Scottish history and mythology from the Brahan Seer to Thomas the Rhymer; and this article looks at how their predictions cast a long shadow over the lives of people of Scotland
Braemar Castle in Aberdeenshire was first built by the 18th Earl of Mar, John Erskine in 1628, using it as a hunting lodge and strong hold against the powerful neighbouring Farquharson family. The castle replaced the nearby Kindrochit Castle, which is said to have been built sometime in the 11th century. In 1689, John Farquharson, […]
Gordon Casely, a heritage consultant in Aberdeen, has inadvertently discovered that Prince William was a direct descendant of a 17th century Middleton from the small town of Luthermuir in south Aberdeenshire. Mr Casely was trying to discover if William’s soon-to-be wife Kate Middleton had Scottish ancestry, when he came across John Middleton, the son of […]
A Bodach is a mythical spirit or creature, rather like the bogeyman. The word is a Scottish Gaelic term for “old man”. Historically its meaning is “mature person”, from bod “penis” and the suffix -ach, literally “someone who has a penis”. The bodach was said to slip down the chimney and steal or terrorize little […]
At the weekend, whilst trying to entertain my mum on a visit down to Edinburgh, I visited the National Galleries for the first time. There’s a great collection of artwork there, a lot of lovely pieces, but the painting that I found most striking and alluring was John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Lady Agnew of […]
View 2011 Highland Games and Scottish Events in a larger map We’ve updated our Scottish Clan Events Map 2011 to now include Highland Games and events that are happening across the USA and Canada. If there any events that you know of that we’ve missed, feel free to leave us a comment with details, and […]
The origins of Clan MacFie/MacPhee and all it’s name variations are said to be descended from a Selkie or seal woman. Selkies are a mythical people who can change from human form to seal form with the aid of a detachable skin. These skins are individual and only can be used by the person who […]
This made me chuckle. For those of you that don’t know Stovies are basically a load of old leftovers, usually from a Sunday Roast.
