Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrates the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth. We’re also celebrating some of Scotland’s great contributions to the world: golf, whisky, great minds and innovations.

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Homecoming Scotland 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national poet and cultural icon Robert Burns, whose message of friendship epitomised through the song ‘Auld Lang Syne’ lives on.

Burns is the inspiration behind our year long celebration of some of Scotland’s great contributions to the world:

- Golf- Whisky- Great Scottish Minds and Innovation- Robert Burns- Rich culture and heritage

For the millions around the world with Scots ancestry and everyone with a passion for our great nation, 2009 will be an exceptional year to visit Scotland.

Highland Heritage & Culture

Modern Scotland

It’s not all about castles, shortbread, highland coos and Nessy!We take a closer look at the Highland Kilt and Scottish Whisky.

Responsible for so much the world love and use today, find out why Scotland is the best small country in the world!

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Your wee bit hill and glen.

O Flower of Scotland,When will we see your like again

O Flower of ScotlandWhen will we see your like again

That fought and died for

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It isnaeThe Scottish Highlands is a magical place and trying to describe it in just a few lines is impossible, but to give you a insight we will focus a little on the origins of the kilt along with a little history of whiskey and its highland regions.

Originating in the traditional dress of men and boys in the Scottish Highlands of the 16th century. For anyone of Scottish ancestry, the kilt is a symbol of honour for the clan which they belong. First worn by those who lived in the Scottish Highlands, the kilt was a matter of dress that afforded the fighting army with possibly its most useful tool.

Prior to 1792 those who wanted to wear the kilt in the Lowlands or Britain, had to join the British army. The reason being that because of the swift and competent movements of the Highland armies, the English were afraid that if they let anyone wear the kilt it would spark the idea of revolution.

Since the 19th century it has been associated with the wider culture of Scotland in general. It is most often made of woollen cloth in a tartan pattern and though the Scottish kilt is most often worn mainly on formal occasions or at Highland Games and sports events, it has also been adapted as an item of fashionable informal, and formal, male clothing in recent years. However as a lot of Scots will tell you its not a day to day garment.

Highland Heritage & Culture

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The tartan kilt has long been the most recognizable cultural tradition of the Highland Scots. Most people see it as the most identifiable feature and tradition associated with the Scottish Highlander. The Scottish kilt displays uniqueness in design, construction, and convention.

The Kilt

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It isnaeIt can get cold, rainy and blustery in Scotland, but a wee dram or two (or three) of the Water of Life (Uisge-beatha in Gaelic or aqua vitae in Latin) - Scotch Whisky - will warm your insides very nicely.

Whisky has been produced in Scotland for hundreds of years and according to the Scotch Whisky Association, no one knows exactly when the art of distilling was first practiced in Scotland; it is known that the Ancient Celts practiced distilling, and that the liquid they produced — uisge beatha (“water of life”) — evolved into Scotch Whisky.

Something that began centuries ago as a way of using up rain-soaked barley after a wet harvest, the whisky industry has now grown into one of the country’s biggest earners, bringing billions of pounds into the economy every year.

Scotch Whisky is divided into five distinct categories: Single Malt, Blended Malt, Single Grain, Blended Grain, and of course Blended Scotch Whisky. The most popular whiskies you are likely to try are either blended whisky or a single malt whisky.

The single malts of Scotland are grouped by region. The regions in Scotland, the Lowlands, the Highlands, Speyside, Campbeltown and the island of Islay have their origins in the regulation of licences and duties, but they do also embrace certain characteristics.

Be sure to take part in some of the great whisky-related events taking place during 2009 (particularly during Whisky Month in May) and make sure you try some Scotch whisky when you visit Scotland - there is a whisky to suit everyone’s taste and it is sure to interest and surprise you. Come home to the home of whisky in 2009.

The Whisky regions in Scotland

Lowland — only three distilleries remain in operation: Auchentoshan, Bladnoch, and Glenkinchie.

Speyside — has the largest number of distilleries, which includes: Aberlour, Balvenie, Glenfiddich, Speyburn, The Glenlivet, The Glenrothes and The Macallan

Highland — some Highland distilleries: Aberfeldy, Balblair, Dalmore, Dalwhinnie, Glen Ord, Glenmorangie, Oban and Old Pulteney.

The Islands, an unrecognized sub-region includes all of the whisky producing islands (but excludes Islay): Arran, Jura, Mull, Orkney and Skye — with their respective distilleries: Arran, Isle of Jura, Tobermory, Highland Park and Scapa, and Talisker.

Campbeltown, once home to over 30 distill-eries, currently has only three distilleries operating: Glen Scotia, Glengyle and Springbank.

Islay — has eight producing distilleries: Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Lagavulin and Laphroaig. A new small distillery, Kilchoman, has recently begun production but will not be on sale until September, 2009.

Whisky

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There have been centuries of achievement by Scotland and Scots. Scotland has gifted the world some of its great artists, inventors, thinkers and business leaders. Even some of it’s the world most popular sports originated from Scotland.

But these things are already given. The contribution of Scots is known and continues to be acknowledged. But perhaps it is time to be judged on what Scotland is now, and on what the Scots of today are achieving, and on our future potential.

Scottish business is doing well, the government are doing the right things and the young people of Scotland are increasingly confident, caring and ambitious for themselves and their country.

The potential that our small country holds is amazing and Scotland is a remarkable nation. Our influence is disproportionate to our size. There are Scots in every corner of the globe making an impact on their chosen field.

We graduate more students per head of population than almost anyone else in Europe.We are world class in more sectors of the economy than a nation of our size ought to be - in financial services, energy, life sciences and others. We are the most modern of nations, with a parliament and an identity. We are part of one of the world’s most powerful countries. Our people are educated, talented and cultured, with a pride and strength of identity that is recognized worldwide. In short, we are one of the best small countries in the world.

The predominant image of Scotland is a mythical one. Castles, glens and misty mountains. Add to that the Braveheart and a touch of Trainspotting, and what you have is the uninformed image of Scotland.

This gap between perception and reality holds Scotland back economically. To be able to grasp every global opportunity that presents itself to our people and our business, we need to correct that image. With the Homecoming year we aim to show youjust that!

Modern Scotland

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The Scottish parliament building – Edinburgh

The Imax and Science Centre – Glasgow

The Falkirk Wheel – Falkirk

The Clydeside at Night - Glasgow

Spot Nessy!

Ye Pow’rs, wha mak mankind your care, And dish them out their bill o fare, Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware That jaups in luggies: But, if ye wish her gratefu prayer, Gie her a Haggis!

Contact:Event Scotland, Homecoming Scotland 20095th Floor, Ocean Point One94 Ocean Drive, EdinburghEH6 6JH

Homecoming Scotland 2009www.homecomingscotland.cominfo@homecomingscotland2009.comTelephone: + 44 (0) 131 472 2408Fax: + 44 (0) 131 472 2310

Try Some Scottish Haggis

Scotland Is Th’ haem Ay Golf

Visit Scotland InIts Homecoming Year