We love Christmas in Scotland, and it’s a brilliant and beautiful time of year. But why should you spend it with us? Here’s just a few good reasons why.
Forecasters predict a white Christmas in parts of Scotland
Snow: If Christmas just isn’t Christmas for you without snow, then head to Scotland for better odds of a white Christmas. Compared to London’s six percent chance of snow on December 25th, Scotland offers much better odds, with Glasgow at 35 percent, Aberdeen at 53 percent, and Lerwick boasting a festive 75 percent chance of snowfall!* You can’t deny that a white landscape on Christmas morning does lend an air of magic, and it also makes the prospect of a day indoors, a wood fire and some good food even more appealing. Breaking weather reports as we post say that we are going to get just that – a white Christmas 2013!
Dark nights: Christmas falls just after the shortest day, which means fewer daylight hours and long dark nights over the festive period in Scotland. Christmas lights are sparkling by 4pm in Scotland’s streets, the lamps of Christmas market stalls seem to shine a little brighter, and warm firesides are yet more beguiling. Somehow, the darker nights give us permission to relax a bit more too; it’s okay to be in jammies by 6pm if you want to, and who really minds if you gain a little festive weight – unlike our friends down under, you won’t be barbecuing in beach gear.
Markets: Scotland is gaining deserved recognition for its thriving markets, just like regular local Farmers’ Markets found in towns and cities like Linlithgow and Stirling. In recent years, we’ve become sensitive to where our produce comes from, is reared or prepared. Because of this, more and more consumers are choosing to shop locally, buying direct from trusted local farmers and producers – and when better to do so than Christmas, when we want the very best and tastiest fare for our tables?
At the other end of the spectrum are the large-scale European markets hosted in Edinburgh and Glasgow around Christmas time. These festive markets attract both locals and tourists alike, who also come for the seasonal attractions like skating, big wheels, beer halls and stunning Christmas lights. US broadcasting giant CNN has even named Edinburgh as one of the best cities worldwide to visit over winter. (And to avoid capital city accommodation prices, stay in Stirling; it’s only 50 minutes on the train from Edinburgh).
Stirling's Hogmanay takes place against a historic backdrop
Hogmanay: Say ‘Hogmanay’ and you’ll think Scotland, even though the jury is out on the word’s roots (which could be Norse, French or Goidelic [Manx]). But, regardless of etymology, one thing is true – no one does Hogmanay like the Scots. New Year’s Eve is as big a celebration as Christmas itself in many households, and every Scottish city is alight with fireworks at the toll of 12 to welcome in the New Year. Stirling’s award-winning Hogmanay celebrations will headline with Deacon Blue this year, set against the backdrop of one of the most pivotal castles in Scottish history. It’s the perfect start to 2014, in which Scotland will not only host the Commonwealth Games, but the Ryder Cup, and Homecoming Scotland too.
Traditions: Christmas and New Year in Scotland still have persistent traditional elements. Though the Yule log is now more familiar to us as a cake, the Yule log does have a place in Scottish history. While other countries chose other woods, birch or rowan was traditionally burnt in Scotland’s hearths until the early 20th century, a little at a time for the 12 days of Christmas. Come Hogmanay, the first person across your door after ‘the bells’ at midnight is a ‘first-footer’. Even now, a first-footer will still make an effort to bring a small gift or ‘handsel’. Traditionally an appropriate handsel would be coal, shortbread, whisky, or black bun, but any small gift is now acceptable!
Food: What’s Christmas without good food and drink? And Scotland has plenty of it. At Christmas we choose our best – and often most traditional – food and drink to celebrate the season. Scottish salmon, especially when smoked, is fast becoming a mainstay starter for Christmas dinner (and not just in Scotland), with Scottish venison giving turkey a run for its money for main course. And the Scots like nothing better than carbs, which we do so well. You’ll find many a household serve up a traditional Clootie Dumpling made from scratch on Christmas day as an alternative to Christmas Pudding, while Hogmanay just wouldn’t be the same without Black Bun either. To bring in the bells at Hogmanay, many Scots now serve a portion of haggis with a dram of whisky on the side or poured over. For those with a sweet tooth, you’re in good company; few Scottish houses will see out the festive period without a bite of shortbread or two. This simple, delicious biscuit so strongly associated with Scotland has been with us since the 12th century, with some sources saying Mary Queen of Scots had a hand in tweaking the recipe to that we know today. And last, but not least, you can’t leave Scotland without sampling a single malt (whisky), of which we have many. All have subtle differences in flavour, aroma, and colour. Scotland has been producing single malt for centuries, always using just two ingredients: our clear Scottish water and malted barley. Only whisky that is distilled in Scotland, in oak casks, and matured for at least three years, can make a claim to the name of ‘single malt’. The best, simplest, and most natural ingredients. And time.
So if you really want to get a true feel for, and flavour of, Christmas – come spend Christmas and Hogmanay with us. But mind: wrap up, and come hungry.
*Statistics provided by the National Meteorological Library.