With Scottish Miscellany, author Jonathan Green lets you revel in the fun and fascinating explanations behind Scottish traditions and folklore, giving you the answers to questions you’ve always had—or never knew you had—and more as he covers all aspects of Scotland. From Scottish culture to the ancient history of the country to modern pastimes, this book has all that and more. Learn why the thistle is the floral emblem of Scotland, how Scotch whisky is made, why the Scots celebrate Hogmanay, how to play the bagpipes, and much more. This delightful book is the perfect gift for anyone planning a visit to Scotland, with an interest in Scottish history, or a drop of Scottish blood.

Ever wondered what some of the weirdest productions of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe have been? Has it crossed your mind that you don't actually know which Scottish city has the honour of being twinned with the Russian town of Piskov (mind you don't drop that , now)? If so, then this is the book for you. Crammed fuller than a haggis, Jim Hewiston's Scottish Miscellany is jam-packed with lists, tables, top tens, recipes and bizarre phenomena relating to oor braw wee country. But there's more! Did you know, for example, that our ludicrous saying 'A midge is as big as a mountain, amaist' is possibly outdone in terms of ridiculousness by Bulgaria's 'Dry pants catch no fish'?

With Irish Miscellany, author Dermot McEvoy lets you revel in the fun and fascinating explanations behind Irish traditions and folklore. He offers the answers to questions you’ve always had—or never knew you had—as he covers all aspects of Ireland. From Irish culture to ancient history to modern pastimes, this full-color book educates and entertains. Such facts include: The true history of Halloween Why the Celtic cross is such a staple icon of Ireland A history of the Irish Gaelic language Where to find megalithic art in Ireland and why it’s there A history of the Tailteann Games Historical monarchies that ruled Ireland in ancient times The world’s first suburban commuter railway And many more This delightful book is the perfect gift for anyone planning a visit to Ireland, with an interest in Irish history, or with a drop of Irish blood. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Including works from Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic, Cornish, Breton and Manx, this Celtic Miscellany offers a rich blend of poetry and prose from the eighth to the nineteenth century, and provides a unique insight into the minds and literature of the Celtic people. It is a literature dominated by a deep sense of wonder, wild inventiveness and a profound sense of the uncanny, in which the natural world and the power of the individual spirit are celebrated with astonishing imaginative force. Skifully arranged by theme, from the hero-tales of Cú Chulainn, Bardic poetry and elegies, to the sensitive and intimate writings of early Celtic Christianity, this anthology provides a fascinating insight into a deeply creative literary tradition.

Jim Hewitson's Scotland is a gey strange place. And this broth of off-cuts from the past, contemporary attitudes, outlandish lists, absurd tables, historical and hysterical trivia and off-the-wall observations is certainly one of the most curious Scottish books of the new millennium. In it, facts and figures collide with couthy anecdotes and unlikely yarns, all of which are shot through with that mystical ingredient which Jim has been trying to drag to the surface for thirty years: Scottishness. - What are the ten most obscure clan mottoes? - Which is the wettest place in Scotland? - What are the most frequently used reponses to Scotland's beggers? - And is the Glasgow Underground haunted? By the time you've got to the end of this miscellany, you'll be no nearer finding out who you are but you will be able to answer a thousand questions which no one has ever thought to ask before.

'A Scottish Miscellany' is a lighthearted, idiosyncratic and quirky collection of facts, figures, lists, statistics, biographies and stories with a Scottish connection - all the facts you never knew (and some you never needed to know) about Scotland and the Scottish.