I have lived in Scotland all my life. Here are 6 traditions I grew up with that my American friends find surprising.

• I was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and have lived there most of my life.

• After spending time in the United States and England, I realized that Scotland̵[ads1]7;s traditions are not considered “typical”.

• From Burns Soups to bagpipes, here are all the traditions I grew up with.

I have lived in Scotland, UK, almost all my life.

I was born in Scotland, a small country in the UK with around 5.4 million inhabitants, according to National Records of Scotland.

While Scotland is part of the UK, there are traditions I grew up with that are not celebrated by the rest of the nation – or the world.

I have lived in the country most of my life, with the exception of a short semester abroad in Pennsylvania in 2016, and in recent years I have spent time in London working.

It was only when I made friends who were not from Scotland – especially my US-based friends – that I realized how unique some of our traditions are for the rest of the world.

Every January we celebrate Burns Night in honor of the famous poet Robert Burns.

Burns Night falls on January 25 each year in honor of Robert Burns, or “Rabbie Burns” as he is called in Scotland.

Burns was an 18th-century poet from Dumfries and is considered the country’s national poet. He is best known for writing the lyrics to “Auld Lang Syne”, a song that is often performed on New Year’s Eve in Scotland and in other countries.

When I was in elementary school, our teachers used Burns Night to teach us about poetry. I remember performing in “The Burns Factor”, a competition where we had to recite our favorite poem from Burns in memory.

At Burns Night we eat a traditional Scottish meal known as “Burns Soups”.

At Burns Night, many families across Scotland enjoy a “Burns Supper” for dinner.

A Burns Supper consists of haggis (spicy meat encapsulated in animal intestines), neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes). While most popular on Burns Night, the family eats haggis several times a year, and it can usually be served in restaurants at any time of the year.

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Haggis have been banned in the United States since 1971, because the traditional recipe includes mutton. However, you can get a vegetarian version of it in some stores, according to iNews.

Men use kilt at important celebrations, such as prom, weddings and confirmations.

Kilter is a tartan skirt garment that originated in the Scottish Highlands in the 16th century, according to Lochcarron from Scotland.

It’s not something men walk around in every day. Kilters are stored for special events, such as prom, confirmations and weddings.

When I showed the picture above of my parents on their wedding day to some of my classmates in the United States, they were surprised that my father married in a “skirt.” But growing up in Scotland is the norm.

At school dances we do not dance to modern music. Instead, we have traditional Scottish dance, known as ceilidhs.

A ceilidh is a collection that involves dancing to traditional folk music, either in partners or in groups to set choreographed routines, all of which have their own names. For example, one of the most popular routines is called “Gay Gordons”.

When we were growing up, our school threw a ceilidh every year before Christmas. Throughout the month of December, each training class was dedicated to learning and practicing the various routines.

When I was studying in the United States, it was years since I had been on a ceilidh – and yet I still remembered every single movement of “Gay Gordons” and tried (unsuccessfully) to teach it to my roommates.

Bagpipes are played at important events.

Bagpipes are played at a wide range of events, including parades, funerals and even school gatherings. It is also common to see bagpipes roaming the streets of Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Bagpipe music is considered popular in Scotland, and there are several pipe bands including Red Hot Chilli Pipers that have made a name for themselves – despite the instrument’s sometimes negative portrayal in pop culture.

New Year’s Eve – known as Hogmanay in Scotland – involves several traditions.

Hogmanay, the Scottish word for New Year’s Eve, is believed to be related to the French word “hoginane” which means “gala day”, according to BBC Newsround. The publication adds that the term was first used extensively after Mary, Queen of Scots’ return to Scotland from France in 1561.

The Hogmanay tradition I remember most vividly is called “first footing”, which means being the first person to enter someone’s house (usually a relative or friend) after midnight for happiness.

Another tradition involves having steak pie on New Year’s Day, but it’s something I’ve only done on a handful of occasions.

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