There are many customs associated with Hogmanay (the name given to the last day of the year):- 'first-footing' involves being the first person to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour.
- Singing 'Auld Lang Syne' - a traditional poem by Robert Burns

Le nouvel an en Ecosse
Il y a plusieurs traditions associées à Hogmanay (le nom donné au dernier jour de l'année :
- 'first-footing' consiste à être la première personne à franchir le seuil de la porte d'un ami ou d'un voisin
- 'chanter 'Auld Lang Syne' - un poème traditionnel de Robert Burns

Partons à la découverte de l'Ecosse...





Scotland is part of Great Britain (Great Britain = England + Wales + Scotland)
and of the United Kingdom (UK = GB + Northern Ireland).
Scotland shares a land border to the south with England (this border is not very far
from the wall that was built in 122 AD during the rule of Hadrian (Roman emperor).
It is bounded by the North Sea on the east and the Atlantic Ocean on the west.

Scotland has some 790 islands - 130 inhabited

Capital City: Edinburgh
Major Cities: Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee

Highest Point: Ben Nevis

Floral Emblem: The Thistle

National Day: St Andrew's Day (30th November)
Burns' Night is an annual celebration of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns.
(25th January)

National Animal: The Unicorn

L'Ecosse a au sud une frontière avec l'Angleterre. Elle est bordée à l'est par la mer du Nord, à l'ouest par l'océan Atlantique.
The Official Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom
On the left the shield is supported
by the English Lion. On the right it is supported
by the Unicorn of Scotland.

In 1296, Scotland was under the domination of Edward I King of England
En 1296 l'Ecosse était sous la domination d'Edouard I roi d'Angleterre.


William Wallace (Braveheart) (1272 - 1305)

Wallace is a national hero.
He was one of the main leaders during the First War of
Scottish Independence.

In 1297, he defeated the English forces at Stirling Bridge.

Taken prisoner, he was executed in London in a barbarous manner.

The Battle of Stirling Bridge


Wallace est un héros national. Il fut l'un des principaux chefs pendant la première guerre d'indépendance de l'Ecosse. En 1297 il battit les Anglais à
Stirling Bridge. Fait prisonnier il fut exécuté à Londres d'une manière barbare.


Robert Bruce (1274 - 1329)

He was crowned King in 1306. In 1307 he began a campaign to drive
the English out of Scotland.
Bruce is considered one of Scotland's greatest kings, as well as one
of the most famous warriors of his generation.

The Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 was an especially important
Scottish victory.

In 1328, a treaty recognized the independence of Scotland.
(After Bruce's death, the 2nd War of independence took place between
1332 and1357.

Il fut couronné roi en 1306. En 1307 il entreprit une campagne pour bouter les Anglais hors d'Ecosse. Bruce est considéré comme l'un des plus
grands rois écossais et aussi comme l'un des plus célèbres guerriers de sa génération. La bataille de Bannockburn en 1314 fut une victoire écossaise
particulièrement importante. En 1328 un traité reconnut l'indépendance de l'Ecosse.


James VI (1566 - 1625)

He became King of Scotland at the age of thirteen months.
In 1603, he succeeded Elizabeth I who died leaving no heir.
He then became King of England as James I .
He was the first king to rule over Scotland and England.

In 1605, he escaped the Gunpowder Plot organized by a group of Catholics.

However the kingdoms of England and Scotland were individual sovereign states.
Both countries would remain separate for another 104 years.




They wanted to blow up the House of Lords.
Il devint roi d'Ecosse à l'âge de 13 mois. En 1603, il succéda à Elisabeth I qui mourut sans descendance. Il devint alors roi d'Angleterre sous le nom
Jacques I. Il fut le premier roi à régner sur l'Ecosse et l'Angleterre. En 1605, il échappa au 'Complot des Poudres' organisé par un goupe de catholiques.
Cependant les royaumes d'Angleterre et d'Ecosse étaient des états souverains. Les deux pays restèrent encore séparés pendant 104 ans.



Flag of the kingdom of Great Britain

(used until 1801 when the UK was created)


During the following years, England and Scotland had one monarch but two parliaments
and two flags.

In 1707, the Act of Union was signed, the Scottish parliament was dissolved.
England and Scotland became one country.

The red cross of St. George, combined with the blue background of the
Scottish flag, gave the flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain.




Les années suivantes l'Angleterre et l'Ecosse eurent un seul monarque mais deux parlements et 2 drapeaux. L'Acte d'Union fut signé en 1707,
le parlement écossais fut dissous, l'Angleterre et l'Ecosse devinrent un seul pays. La croix rouge de St. George combinée au fond bleu du drapeau
écossais donna 'le drapeau du royaume de Grande-Bretagne. / Il deviendra 'l'Union Jack' que l'on connaît actuellement après l'union de la
Grande-Bretagne et de l'Irlande en 1801. (La croix irlandaise de St. Patrick est une croix rouge en diagonale)


Famous Scots (célébrités)


Alexander Graham Bell
(1847 - 1922)
Robert Burns
(1759 - 1796)


Sean Connery
(1930 - )


Arthur Conan Doyle
(1859 - 1930)
Inventor of the telephone . Poet
(Auld Lang Syne) Actor, best known as
James Bond Author.
creator of the detective
Sherlock Holmes.