Cultural differences Scotland and England

[CauleyMacGlochlin]

So surprised to see on a recent thread that in England secondary school pupils are often not allowed out of school for lunch until 6th form, which Google tells me means 16-18. I'm gobsmacked. I've never heard of anything like this in Scotland and I've lived all over the country (grew up in Glasgow and moved around in adulthood)

I also recently discovered that English school pupils can't leave education at 16. They have to stay in education til 18 unless they have an apprenticeship.

Got me thinking about cultural differences between the countries that I've maybe been oblivious all this time. Any others?

Eh, eh ken 😂

My parents had a friend who was universally known as “Ken Dave”. Because every sentence she spoke to my Dad (who was called David, never ever went by Dave or Davy) ended in the words “Ye ken Dave?

What is a square sausage?!

It looks like a square burger made from sausage meat

@Delphiniumandlupins students from lower income households are not staying to graduate . The commonest reason for this is given is financial difficulties. Additionally, there are LESS places per university in Scotland and less students from disadvantaged families are going to university. (Source:UCAS,2022) No such thing as a free lunch@Delphiniumandlupins

Also with everything being juice… we have cooncil juice

Has anyone mentioned next day soup?
4 generations of women from different sides my family briefly lived in various parts of England. These women came from all over the West of Scotland where it seems pretty common to make your soup, let it sit for a day to get the taste right and only then eat it.
We've all got stories of the good English folk looking at us like we were a bit not right.

Yes, I think the funeral differences some posters are disputing have to do with funerals of extended family. I think everyone would expect to attend the funeral of their mother-in-law, but I have seen posts on MN along the lines of "My parents want to attend my mother-in-law's funeral, but they hardly knew her. Would that be odd?

I come from a culture (Southern US) where people often attend funerals of people they have not even met to support the family. For example, I recently went to the funeral of the mother of a close work colleague. It would not be considered odd, and in some cases, it might even be expected. Perhaps it's similar in Scotland?

Cooncil telly - on the normal channels not sky etc. My dad still asks if the fitba is on cooncil telly.

My parents and DH's family lived hundreds of miles apart from each other. It wouldn't have occurred to MIL to come to the funerals of both of my parents, nor would she have been able to afford the cost of the journey and hotel.

My family are quite scattred in England from the south east, south west and north east.

It would be classed as pretty disrespectful if you didn’t go to the funerals of in laws, even if it meant travel, in my experience.

My parents have been divorced for over 40 years, but even now will go to the funerals of each others family out of respect

Similarly it would be unthinkable to not go to the funeral of a friend’s parent, even if you didn’t know them that well. You are going to support those that are grieving

Similarly it would be unthinkable to not go to the funeral of a friend’s parent, even if you didn’t know them that well. You are going to support those that are grieving

Wow, definitely different to my experience. I'm in my early 50s and I think I've only ever been to three funerals. All blood relatives.

I’d say a bathrobe is a white towelling thing you might nick from a hotel. A dressing gown is a more elaborate, less waterproof item like this. Probably with embroidery on it.

Hoose coat is definitely a thing. But all said and done we all have the same worries, struggles North and south of the border.

Always! I made soup today for tomorrow 😂saying that, curry always tastes better next day too!

Absolutely no such thing as a free lunch. But it's nice to feel you have some choice over what is being served for lunch (however small).
Do you mean that Scottish universities are (on average) smaller therefore have fewer students?

I’m Scottish and lived in SE England for quite a few years but now back in Scotland. England is a diverse country so I guess the differences really relate to the SE but I found it disconcerting that there were so many differences between the two countries.

Driving - I found motorway driving more aggressive in England. I guess there’s more people and more traffic which accounted for it but always felt like people were so slow when I drove back to Scotland

Sunday Lunch - my family always did a roast dinner in Scotland at about 6pm so the English “lunchtime” aspect took me by surprise even though the clue is in the name!

Alcohol & drugs - it was clear that Scotland had more of an issue with this. Many of my English colleagues and flatmates had never taken any drugs whereas I could barely name a person from home who hadn’t tried something. This could just have been the local areas I was in though!

Money - again probably just where I was living in each country, but far more English people appeared to have well off families and eg. went skiing every year or got assistance for a house deposit.

Opening hours - been mentioned a few times but I could never get used to the shops shutting on Sundays in England. I actually liked the idea of it for a peaceful day but always forgot.

Talking to strangers - happens ALL the time in Scotland & usually have a chat with cashiers at tills too. I found it rarely happened in England.

Words - Lots of language differences - I hadn’t realised some words I used were Scots! I discovered that I used the word “wee” to mean “little” all the time which English colleagues thought it was hilarious.

and the obvious one:

Weather - it was only when I moved to the SE that I realised that people actually wore those kind of summer clothes I saw in magazines! My flatmates thought I was mad when I sunbathed in the garden in the first warm day…I didn’t realise the sun might come out for several days in a row 😂

Weather - it was only when I moved to the SE that I realised that people actually wore those kind of summer clothes I saw in magazines! My flatmates thought I was mad when I sunbathed in the garden in the first warm day…I didn’t realise the sun might come out for several days in a row 😂

Oh god yes. Here in Scotland I might want to wear a summer dress and sandals for a couple of hours one afternoon. But in the morning it's probably too cloudy. At lunchtime it's windy. Suitable weather in the afternoon. Then it's chilly again. Not worth the bother really, I'll just wear jeans all day and be a bit hot at about 3pm.

@Ultravox - so true about the weather differences. Living in Scotland I could never understand who bought the light weight winter coats etc in the shops. Moved to SW and the winters are so much milder - after a few winters here I got rid of several of my warmest clothes as I just didn't need that many. Also people think it's wet here. I feel like saying 'pal, try living in Glasgow'!

I kind of agree it seems to be something scots (and Irish) people do . Bad weather incoming ? Get the big soup ( most Scottish households have one) pot out and get down the butchers and get a bone for the broth(and one for pooch🐶)
And because it's made with a bone once it's cooled down it goes thicker . Oh and I don't know if its something in my family you would find potato quarters in it , and they're are so yummy full of the broth flavour 😋 . Everyone fishes around to get as many of the potato quarters in their bowl as they can .

Where are you you can't get pakoras?

I've just had a look at one lokal take away menu and there are chicken, fish, cauliflower and aloo pakoras.

The sweet centre sells them by the kilo.

Anyway they are easy to make, just besan, spices and some water to make the batter, dip your veg and beep fry.

Scottish notes aren't accepted in England which really annoys me.

I've just found out I can get pakoras delivered for breakfast. I may have to indulge.

@sashh the Deep South Coast Of England . I've went into loads of takeaways and they look at me like I'm daft and give me onian bhajis . Think cos they are Banghalashis down here . When I'm back up in Glesga , first thing I do is get some proper pakoka and a bottle of Irn Bru . The Food of Gods !!!

‘House coat’ and ‘dressing gown / robe’ aren’t interchangeable to me as they are two different garments. A dressing gown or robe wraps around and is fastened with a belt; a house coat has buttons or a zip.