Colors of Glasgow - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

A rich choice of interesting symbols is one of main national peculiarities of Glasgow. Some of them have appeared just recently, while others have decorated costumes, flags and emblems for many centuries. Thistle flower is the most famous symbol of the city. The image of the flower can be seen on numerous souvenirs. This symbolic image graced the local coins even five hundred years ago. According to a legend, in ancient times the thistle helped to save the country from invaders. Enemy forces could not pass the field overgrown with prickly thistle unnoticed. The Scottish army was attracted by the cries of the enemy and defeated the invader.

Solitaire flag is a no less known symbol of the city. As a rule, travelers enjoy buying it as a commemorative gift. The flag look like a white cross on a sky-blue canvas. For many centuries flag has remained the official symbol of the country.

Not many people know that there’s also an unofficial flag, which is sometimes called Ferocious Lion. Yellow canvas is decorated with the image of a red lion - the symbol was used by the monarchs as yet in the early medieval period, but it didn’t receive the official status. Despite the fact that this symbol cannot be used by all the other organizations and establishments, the fierce lion has become the main symbol of local football fans. You can see these bright red and yellow flags on all football matches. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Whiskey is a no less peculiar and well-known symbol of Glasgow. The national drink is also very popular among foreign tourists. Experienced collectors can spend days studying showcases of local shops and choosing excellent drinks for their cellars. There are even several museums dedicated to the national drink in the city.

In Glasgow, as well as in other cities of Scotland, is very popular a special kind of fabric - tartan, which is used in tailoring kilts and other accessories. Guests of the city often buy elegant plaid scarves and coats as souvenirs. During various festivals and national celebrations men can even try to wear the traditional kilt. When choosing gifts, you can often see an image of the royal regalia - a sword, scepter and crown. These characters are much respected among the local residents. These days they praise them just like hundreds of years ago.

Festivals in Charles McIntosh's hometown always attract public attention, since each of them is interesting in its own way. Local organizers know how to hold parties, and each of the festivals serves as proof of this. The most famous event taking place in the city is Celtic Connections. This is a folk festival gathering the best performers in this genre. It starts in the middle of January and ends in early February, the venue is The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. As the name implies, it is dedicated to Celtic music. Musicians from different parts of the world attend the festival as participants. Here you can listen to ethno jazz and traditional folk music. However, the event is not complete without dancing. As is known, Celtic music is very driving, so it is difficult to resist and not to break into a dance at the sound of bagpipes.

Another musical event attracting many visitors, fans of rock music, is called TRNSMT. The open-air event is held in Glasgow Green at the end of June. Among the festival's headliners are famous bands playing in various subgenres of rock music - from indie to alternative metal. Before TRNSMT you can get some jazz - this is the time when the Glasgow International Jazz Festival takes place in Merchant City where the main venue is George Square. Here you can listen to different styles of jazz music - soul, funk, blues.

Another interesting event, the West End Festival, is scheduled for the same month. At this time there is a parade, and the event itself is often referred to as "Scottish Mardi Gras" - the central streets are festively decorated to make parades seem as picturesque as possible. Apart from processions, visitors can enjoy theatrical performances, live music, shows, a children's program, as well as a fair where you can buy some interesting gizmos. The event is joined by many restaurants and cafes in the city center. At this time, everybody feels a festive extravaganza, so memorable afterparties are guaranteed. By the way, the festival has repeatedly received awards. Thus, it is ranked 30th among top festivals according to The Independent magazine.

In mid-May, the Southside Fringe Festival starts - a large-scale cocktail of burlesque, music, cabaret, theater, and art. All this happens in local clubs, bars, and restaurants, so if you're traveling at this time, take care of the clothes in order to feel the full immersion into the atmosphere. One more great festival to visit is held in March. Everyone knows the love of Scots for good humor, and therefore it is not surprising that at this time you can witness such an event as the Glasgow International Comedy Festival. Without exaggeration, this is the largest comedy festival in all of Europe, and therefore it is visited by people from all over the world.

Some local festivals are dedicated to bagpipes. First and foremost, it's worth mentioning Piping Live! Festival (or Piping Hot Festival) that takes place at the beginning of August at four locations - George Square, The National Piping Center, St Aloysius Church, and Kelvin Hall. The opening of the festival takes place in Royal Concert Hall. The World Pipe Band Championships are held within the framework of the festival. Without exaggeration, this is the largest event of this kind in all of Europe, so here you can see (and, of course, listen to) participants from all over the world. This is confirmed by the fact that it has repeatedly been awarded the “Festival of the Year”.

The Merchant City Festival, one more major event in the festival life of Peter Capaldi's hometown, is held in Merchant City, as the name implies. The festival falls on the beginning of August. The program involves dancing, theatrical and musical performances, fashion shows, stand-up comedy, food courts, and art exhibitions. This is a great chance to get acquainted with the local culture since its participants are mainly local talents. Many events can be visited for free. One more interesting event takes place at the end of February, and its name is Aye Write !. This is a literary festival offering meet-and-greets, readings, and seminars.