Christmas is celebrated in Scotland along with midwinter festivals that celebrate the turning of the year.

Chris Hoy, winner of Olympic gold medals for track cycling in Athens, Beijing and London, was born in 1976 in Edinburgh. Hoy’s magnificent achievement of three gold medals in 2008 proved inspirational for a generation of young men and women who were aiming for the 2012 London Olympics.

Carol Ann Duffy is a poet, playwright, performer, mother. She is Britain's first female poet laureate, a mesmerising performer and advocate for poetry.

Thinking of hosting a Burns Supper? This article gives tips about traditional Burns Night food to help your celebrations run smoothly.

Burns Night on 25 January is celebrated by Scots with a Burns Supper

Politicians born in Scotland include Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Alex Salmond, Danny Alexander, Douglas Alexander and John Smith. Find out more about some these key players in UK politics.

Scotland has a rich heritage of poetry, from Robbie Burns to Carol Ann Duffy, the first female Poet Laureate. This article touches on a few of the poets who have emerged from a culture of story, poetry and song.

Scotland has produced internationally recognised authors, many of whom have used their country as a setting for thier novels. The range is vast - from Ian Rankin's Rebus novels which explore the dark side of Edinburgh to Dorothy Dunnett's King Hereafter, a challenging version of Macbeth's story.

Subtitled "The Story of those who Came Before" Roots of Stone by Hugh G Allison tells the history of both a country and a family over 2,000 years.

Bagpipes - historical and cultural traditions in Scotland. The differences between oral and notated piping music. Allan Macdonald's research into bagpipe music.