Happy Hogmanay!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 29 December 2023 > Celebrate

Hogmanay is the name for New Year’s Eve in Scotland. It was traditionally a much bigger celebration than Christmas in Scotland, and is still a big event. It’s associated with many traditions, some which will seem familiar and some specific to Scotland. As with new year celebrations in many cultures, it’s considered bad luck to … Continue reading “Happy Hogmanay!”

Young Inventors Sail Model Boats Around Antarctica

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 25 July 2023 > In the News

Scottish brothers Ollie and Harry Ferguson are just 13 and 11, but they’ve dedicated their lives to having adventures. The latest one is building two model boats that have been launched to sail around Antarctica and collect scientific data about the ocean and the air. Ollie and Harry already have a Guinness World Record for … Continue reading “Young Inventors Sail Model Boats Around Antarctica”

Tartan Day

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 04 April 2023 > Celebrate

6 April every year is celebrated by people of Scottish origins around this world as Tartan Day. And a new exhibition at the Victoria and Albert museum in Dundee examines this long-lived fabric that was considered so dangerous that it was illegal to wear it in the 18th century is now a visual reminder of … Continue reading “Tartan Day”

Scottish First Minister Resigns

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 15 February 2023 > In the News

On 15 February, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced she was resigning after eight years in the post. Like Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’ Prime Minister, less than a month ago, Sturgeon blamed the brutality of political life for her resignation. Nicola Sturgeon has been an MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament) since the first elections … Continue reading “Scottish First Minister Resigns”

Free Celtic Film Festival

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 29 March 2022 > What's On

The second edition of the Festival du film celtique will take place at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris on the evenings of 11 and 12 April.  Feature and short films from Scotland and Wales will be shown, with lots of opportunity to talk to filmmakers. There are a few invitations available. On Monday … Continue reading “Free Celtic Film Festival”

Toasting Robert Burns

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 21 January 2022 > Celebrate

Not many countries have an annual celebration of their national poet. In fact not all countries have a national poet. But Scotland does and millions of people around the world celebrate him on Burns Night every 25 January. The adoption of Robert Burns (1759-1796) as national poet was a natural, organic process born or real … Continue reading “Toasting Robert Burns”

St Andrews Day Online Resources

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 25 November 2021 > Webpicks

St Andrew’s Day, 30 November, is the Scottish national day. Here are a couple of resources to talk about the celebration with collège classes, and a suggestion to get everyone moving! This BBC Newsround article written for children has “Everything you need to know about St Andrew’s Day”. It’s usable from A2. You may want … Continue reading “St Andrews Day Online Resources”