While you’ll find lots of trees, tinsel and turkey north of the border at Christmas, the festive period in Scotland isn’t quite the same as the rest of the UK. It’s a much younger celebration for a start, Father Christmas goes under a different name and there’s a real penchant for all things fiery. Then there is New Year that the Scottish have their own name for and celebrate like no one else. Read on to discover some truly Scottish Christmas traditions.
Winter coats and sturdy boots ward off the chilly day. Forced inside by long dark evenings, with windows shut and curtains drawn. The warmth of a log fire pulls in the crowd, the perfect conduit for family interaction. Whether you’re roasting chestnuts, toasting crumpets or warming toes, a home with a hearth is a happy place to be.
We all know one of them – someone who puts chutney on everything. Someone who has a cupboard full of artisan oils. Someone who is more interested in the production process of cheese than they are about your day at work. Someone who will talk for twenty minutes about how their favourite whisky is distilled….
But the lengthy lectures on food and drink endured all year round are totally worth it at Christmas, when buying a Christmas present for your foodie friend is easier than breaking a Scottish shortbread biscuit in half…
So we’ve pulled together a collection of Scotland’s finest foodie gifts – click any items on the slideshow below to visit the supplier’s website:
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PS And if you’re the foodie, just leave your laptop open on this page and hope that your loved one gets the hint….
From 21st November 2014 to 4th January 2015, in the heart of Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh, an array of organised events can be found as the city comes to life in the winter with six weeks of festive celebration. Recognised as one of the best cities in the UK to spend Christmas and New Year, it is also ideal for a day trip by train, as the main event is held in Princes Street Gardens, which is only a short walk from Waverley train station. What used to be the “Winter Wonderland” celebrations have now expanded to become “Edinburgh’s Christmas” with rides and attractions galore. 
These include the Big Wheel, North Pole Slide, Carousel, Santa Train and Helter Skelter – in fact there is something here for everyone. There are markets to walk through including the European Christmas Market, the Scottish Market and the Children’s Market. Brand new for 2014 is a circular ice rink, located at St Andrew Square, where you now glide around the Melville Street monument. So the centre of Edinburgh is a mass of entertainment and you can do your Christmas shopping as well! What fun.
For a self-catering holiday house in Scotland, there is still a chance to book your Christmas in Scotland. This Stylish Converted Church in the Scottish Borders region below Edinburgh can sleep up to 13 people in great style and comfort. The weekly rental for Christmas 2014 has now been reduced to £1,840 and a hamper is thrown in too, making this a great offer. Pop up to Edinburgh for the day and enjoy the fun and festivity of “Edinburgh’s Christmas” and have a special Christmas break at a superb self-catering venue. What better way to enjoy Christmas! To see a further selection of Scottish holiday houses available over Christmas, check the designated Scotts Castle Holidays Christmas 2014 website today.
Santa arriving on Christmas Day
There is a great repeat advert that comes on the TV in the run-up to the festive period by a certain well known major soft drinks company from the US, with the jingle – “the holidays are coming, the holidays are coming”. Sure you know it – of course it is Coca Cola! It commences each year mid November and this year they are scheduled to start on 10th November 2013. This iconic image of the convoy of trucks hauling the cargo of bottles in their distinctive red livery gets everyone primed to be ready for the holiday season ahead.
But did you know that the iconic image of the jolly Santa in his red suit and white beard, that we know today, was first marketed to the soft drinks consumers back in 1931. In fact the artist for those adverts back then, Haddon Sundblom, is credited with creating this universal image of Santa Claus, because these adverts have been so successful and spread across the world over the years, that this is the perceived view of how he should look. 
With the run-up to the festive period commencing with these adverts – the question is where are you going to be for Christmas? If it is your turn to host the family and your house is not big enough – what are you going to do? Thankfully, Scotts Castle Holidays is on hand and offers a great festive selection of large houses and castles in Scotland to choose from for self-catering holidays. This Beautiful Holiday House, with an air of Edwardian bonhomie, is ideal for a family of 12 people to enjoy a festive break by the foothills of the Grampian mountains. Whilst snow is likely to appear, it should always be visible from the house. Just the perfect place to relax for a “Sparkling Holiday” inside and out. Why not check out the selection of large holiday houses and castles in Scotland today at Scotts Castle Holidays.
Winter Wonderland in Edinburgh
From 29th November 2012 to 6th January 2013, in the heart of Scotland’s capital city is an array of organised events, including skating on an ice rink, as the city of Edinburgh comes to life in the winter with six weeks of festive celebration. Recognised as one of the best cities in the UK to spend Christmas and New Year, it is also ideal for a day trip by train, as the main event is held in Princes Street Gardens, which is only a short walk from Waverley train station. For more details go to Edinburgh’s Christmas web site.
For a self-catering holiday house in Scotland, the following venues are still available for the Christmas week of 2012 and they are 1, Dollarbeg Castle Apartment, 2, Traditional Estate Cottage in East Lothian and 3, Stylish Converted Church in the Borders. To see a further selection for Christmas 2012 and New Year 2012/2013, check the designated Scotts Castle Holiday website today.
If you check out the Special Offers page you can find some great offers available. At the Magnificent Baronial Castle near Helensburgh in Argyll, the price for the self-catering week over Christmas 2012 has been reduced from £5,425 to £4,450. This also includes a “Royal Breakfast Buffet”, valued at £15 per head and a special Christmas Hamper valued at £100. Enjoy Christmas in a castle in Scotland!
Looking further ahead for an early booking for Christmas 2013, then for this Magnificent Baronial Castle if you book before 31st December 2012, then the advertised price will be reduced by 10%. Contact the office today at Scotts Castle Holidays for further information.
The UK is currently in the grip of a cold snap of weather, with difficulties at airports and with various road networks. Whilst Scotland is more used to cold weather, there are some more minor roads closed, with the airports on the east coast more vulnerable to weather disruption. The forecast is manageable for the next few days, with more disruption forecast for Christmas Eve. Check with the Met Office for more details.
At time of going to press, all main roads continue to be open within Scotland and all the Scotts Castle Holidays portfolio of castles, houses, cottages and apartments are open and ready for business. Those people who have booked for Christmas and travelling this week, should keep the property updated of your arrival time and to check local conditions. There is going to be cold conditions, so once on the road, make sure you have packed enough warm clothing and taken the time to put stronger anti-freeze into the car. Drive carefully for the conditions. Driving on snow and ice will take longer – so take more time for your journey and start earlier. Plan your journey and have a road map. Pack a small shovel in the car in case you get stuck. Take torches, food and water. By taking extra care it will make your journey less of a concern and improve your enjoyment of your holiday, there and back. Have a Happy Christmas.
Edinburgh’s open-air ice rink in Princess Street Gardens is a spectacular winter attraction in a wonderful setting beneath Edinburgh Castle. It will be up and running from Thursday 25th November 2010 through to Tuesday 4th January 2011 and is a festive spectacle which is enjoyed by all the family. It is very convenient for travelling into Edinburgh by train for a family day out, without worrying about parking. It is part of the “Winter Wonderland” experience and one that is recommended to visitors and residents alike.
For those wishing to travel to Scotland for their Christmas, then there is still availability which can be found at the Scotts Castle Holidays Christmas website. The chance to stay in a large holiday house in Scotland in front of a lovely open fire with snow falling outside on Christmas Day is a special experience indeed. Ho, ho, ho!
