Shetland.org

Culture

Shetland’s culture stems from diverse roots. After 550 years of Scottish and British rule, it’s no surprise that the visitor from other parts of the UK will find much that makes them feel very much at home. The law, education, commerce, faith and quite a lot of our architecture are all essentially Scottish. People here cheer on Scottish or English football teams, follow events in Ambridge or Albert Square, or listen to Katie Melua or Nicola Benedetti on their iPods.

Scandinavian Influence

Enlarge Shetland Flags photo

The Shetland flag, on the right, combines the colours of the Scottish saltire on the left with the asymmetric cross that is a feature of the Norwegian flag in the middle.

But there’s much that is less familiar. The first clue that this is somewhere apart comes from road signs that point to places with names like Cullivoe or Weisdale. Then there are some of the waterfront buildings and newer housing, which unmistakeably evoke Norway. The smaller boats, too, have a decidedly Scandinavian shape and our music is similarly influenced.

The Shetland Dialect

The Shetland dialect has a Scots foundation, but many words and turns of phrase from Old Norse are embedded in it, so that – with Shetland accents – it can sound very strange – possibly a bit like Dutch or German - to the inexperienced ear. If a Shetlander, a Faroese and an Icelander spotted the bird known in English as an oyster-catcher, they’d all call it a shalder, even if their spellings varied slightly. It’s worth stressing, incidentally, that Shetlanders make a point of switching into pure English if they think someone won’t understand the dialect.

Recent Influences

There are newer influences too. Shetlanders originating from Asia, mainland Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, Australia, or north America have added the richness of their cultures to the mix.

Aspects of Shetland Culture

On these pages, we look in a little more detail about some aspects of Shetland culture. We explore the visual arts, crafts, music and literature and the festivals that bring them together. You may also find the websites of Shetland Arts and Shetland Amenity Trust helpful. We introduce the range of architecture you’ll find here and, for those who embrace a faith, we set out the strands represented in the islands.