By Carolyn McDonald Graf This is not the first time this recipe appeared in our newsletter, but I brought these meatballs to Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and many people asked …
Scots in the 2024 Summer Olympics
By Catherine McKinley The Paris Summer Olympic Games run Friday, July 26th to Sunday, August 11th. To celebrate the achievements of the Scottish athletes, competing on Team Great Britain, this …
Taste of Scotland: Grains for Bannocks
By Carolyn McDonald Graf The word “bannock” probably comes from the Gaelic bunnuch or bannach which means morsel and may come from the Latin word for bread panicium. A bannoch …
Scottish Signers Of the Declaration Of Independence
By Catherine McKinley As the citizens of the United States of America prepare to celebrate the 4th of July, it should be noted that the signers of the Declaration of …
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On the Trail of the Historical Macbeths
By Valerie Nieman Not much to look at, these two mounds covered with windblown grass, but they tell of the fate of nations, the death of kings. Beside Iona’s abbey …
The History of Highland Dance’s Basic Four
By Catherine McKinley Highland Dancing first came about long before recorded history. It is known, though, that this form of dance was started by Scottish Warriors as a way to …
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Tastes of Scotland: Cottage Pie
By Carolyn McDonald Graf Cottage pie, as the name suggests, is a pie of humble origins. Using simple ingredients of vegetables and meat with potatoes as a topping, it is …
Tastes of Scotland: Smothered Turkey with Walnuts
By Carolyn McDonald Graf One story goes that in 1526, a man from Yorkshire named William Strickland got two turkeys from an American Indian trader and sold them for tuppence …
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Does Scotland Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
By Catherine McKinley Saint Patrick’s Day was, officially declared in the 1630’s, to be March 17th, the date Patrick passed on in 461 AD. And while the 17th of March …
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The Celtic Roots of Our Christmas Traditions
By Catherine McKinley Mistletoe In the Celtic times, druids observed the festival of “Alban Arthan” (also known as “Yule”) during the Winter solstice. In Norse mythology, mistletoe was a symbol …
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