How to Celebrate Christmas in Scotland

For many Scots, Christmas is one of the most important holidays. It's a time to celebrate with friends and family while participating in local traditions.

Visit Scotland in the run-up to Christmas, and you'll see the country decked out in its holiday finest. Enjoy the romance of Christmas while admiring magnificent Scottish scenery, such as the historic city of Edinburgh or the majestic Highlands.

There are dazzling lights and neatly groomed Christmas trees everywhere in Scotland. Read on to find out how the locals celebrate Christmas. Find out where to go to experience the most of the season's activities.

Scottish Christmas Traditions

Like those in the rest of the United Kingdom, Scotland's Christmas customs are based on Christianity and Viking culture.

However, like its Northern European counterparts, Christmas in Scotland has become more secular over time. Nowadays, the emphasis is on enjoying time with loved ones rather than being religious.

While most families will have their twist on the ancient customs, many will participate in the following popular ones:

• Sharing a typical Christmas supper with family and friends.
• Exchange gifts and cards with loved ones.
• Decorating a Christmas tree (some Scots will even select a real tree).
• Encourages children to send their gift wish lists to Santa Claus.
• On Christmas Eve, children set out refreshments for Father Christmas and his reindeer.

Old Christmas Traditions in Scotland

If you spend Christmas in Scotland, you'll notice many of the recent customs. Nonetheless, stories about historical customs have survived, and a few still practice them.

The Vikings, for example, introduced the practice of burning a hardwood "yule log". It is thought that those who sit around this fire will have good luck and success in the coming year. Who wouldn't want to take part in that?

Meanwhile, burning a twig from a rowan tree is believed to help resolve any conflicts between family members or neighbors. All the better to start the New Year fresh.

The Days of Christmas

The largest seasonal celebrations in Scotland occur on Christmas Day, December 25. However, Christmas Eve and Boxing Day have their customs. Scroll down to learn more about what each day has in store.

Christmas Eve

Most of the preparations for tomorrow's big day will be completed by Christmas Eve. So, going to a nearby Christmas market is a terrific opportunity for both visitors and locals to enjoy the holiday spirit.

Edinburgh has the country's largest Christmas market. The best way to take everything in is to walk around with a cup of mulled wine or hot chocolate in hand.

There's something for the entire family here. Consider exhilarating amusement rides, kiosks serving delicious local food, and stands selling gifts and Christmas decorations.

Another typical Christmas Eve activity is attending a midnight church service with carol singing.

Christmas Day

Families and friends exchange gifts on Christmas Day and have a holiday dinner. While many people gather in a loved one's house, dining out is also common.

Some Scots prefer walking before or after their Christmas lunch to enjoy their winter surroundings. If you're planning a trip to Scotland for Christmas, why not participate in this clean seasonal tradition?

Following lunch, many people can relax and enjoy a quiet evening. Gathering around the Christmas tree to chat, play games, and watch TV is a common way to unwind.

Boxing Day

In Scotland, the day after Christmas is traditionally spent unwinding. Many Scots will be off work today because Christmas and Boxing Day are public holidays. We urge that you follow suit during your trip and spend a relaxing day with your travel mates.

Restaurants and shops are open, so you can eat out and buy souvenirs. Shopping may be popular today, as some locals likely take advantage of seasonal bargains.

Meanwhile, others like to unwind in front of the television or catch up with pals they haven't seen since the previous day. Some will walk around the neighborhood or even to the countryside to clear their minds.

Scottish Christmas Food

Christmas dinner in Scotland is comparable to that in the rest of the UK, Canada, and the United States. So, while there aren't many distinctively Scottish holiday dishes, these are some common options on the menu.

Soups, smoked salmon, pâté, and haggis are popular beginnings. Roast turkey is typically the most popular main course dish. However, you may be able to choose from glazed ham, roast beef, or goose.

Let's not overlook the crucial celebratory aspects! In Scotland, you can serve cranberry sauce, roasted or mashed potatoes, "pigs in blankets" (little sausages wrapped in bacon strips), and roasted vegetables.

Meanwhile, vegans and vegetarians can like a nut roast or mushroom wellington.

Your main course will be followed by dessert or a cheeseboard with local cheese, crackers, and chutney. You will usually have a few sweet things to choose from. But probably the most traditional dessert this time of year is Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. Delicious!

New Year's Eve in Scotland.

While Christmas is important to Scots, Hogmanay (or New Year's Eve) is the biggest party of the year in Scotland.

This is partly because Christmas celebrations were outlawed in Scotland for approximately 400 years beginning in the mid-16th century. And this bis ecause the country's rulers at the time thought the festivities surrounding the Holy Family were too "Papist".

The prohibitions were so severe that locals could not even make seasonal yule bread. Despite this, modest gatherings frequently took place behind closed doors.

Because of these restrictions, New Year's Eve became the season's most popular social event among locals.

However, looking closely, you'll notice that Hogmanay dates back even deeper than the 16th century to Pagan and Viking days. Modern firework displays and torchlit processions derive from ancient light celebrations commemorating the winter solstice.

During your visit, you might be able to experience the following Scottish Hogmanay traditions:

• Watching the country's largest fireworks display over Edinburgh Castle.
• Attending a light festival or participating in a torchlight procession.
• Dancing at a "ceilidh" while the band performs Scottish country music.
• Clinking glasses and kissing loved ones are traditional ways to celebrate the New Year.
• Singing the poem Auld Lang Syne, written in the old Scots tongue.

"First-footing" is the habit of visiting friends after midnight on Hogmanay with food gifts such as black bun (spiced fruit cake).