Thanks to centuries of history, the world is very much aware of British culture, although that invariably means English culture in almost all cases. The cultural traits linked to the English have become world-famous, but what about the other countries of the British Isles? Today we’re looking at them through the lens of world opinion and seeing exactly how the world views the country, the culture and the people.
Ireland
Find a place that calls itself Irish anywhere globally and you can expect to see leprechauns, shamrocks, clovers, and plenty of the colour green everywhere. In entertainment as well, all of this imagery is the standard, and common in areas like online casinos which have a long relationship with Ireland. Games like the Luck Rush Express slot feature all of the above with a golden tint, referencing the enduring legend of the leprechaun’s gold at the end of the rainbow.
Beyond this, the Irish have built a global reputation for general friendliness and great hospitality. In particular, Irish descendants in the US celebrate their roots with great joy, and festivals and celebrations are common in areas like New York where they are most concentrated.
Scotland
Thanks in part to American depictions of Scottish characters coming out of Hollywood or otherwise, Scottish culture also has a solidified image around the world. There are few globally who wouldn’t recognise the kilt, for instance, and thanks to portrayals like Mel Gibson’s Braveheart the Scots themselves tend to get associated with fierceness and bravery, as well as a stunning dry humour.
Outside of this, Scottish food and drink is famous and prized as far abroad as Japan, although in terms of Scottish life, perhaps the most well-known activity is golf. After all, the sport was invented in the country and according to Visit Scotland there are over 550 courses in total. As such, it’s not surprising that it has become a major part of the global image, not to mention a major attraction for tourism.
Wales
By comparison to Ireland and Scotland, Wales has far less of an established image in the minds of the global population. Thanks to its smaller size, as well as a smaller number of emigrants, Welsh culture simply hasn’t reached the rest of the world in the same way, and when it does it usually only covers the tricky language and place names.
Ironically, the biggest cultural export from Wales is one that usually doesn’t even get linked to the country. Welsh singers have been renowned within Britain for centuries, but when artists from Wales like Tom Jones or the Manic Street Preachers make it big abroad, it’s almost always in English and doesn’t reference anything from their homeland. Thanks to this, the overriding opinion of Wales is the incorrect assumption that it’s just an extended part of England in some way.
Thanks to the Internet and plenty of resources, the world is slowly learning about the more distinctive aspects of each country. Hopefully, with easier travel and more information being spread, each can be properly recognised in the future.
