Scottish Christmas Traditions
05/12/2025

Scotland in December is a magical blend of ancient customs, sparkling lights, and cosy midwinter traditions. If you’re planning a festive visit, here are some of the most authentic Scottish Christmas experiences to enjoy.

Christmas Eve Watchnight Services/ Midnight Mass

A very Scottish tradition – late-evening Christmas Eve services with:

• Carols
• Bible readings
• Bagpipes in some parishes
• Candlelight
• The “First Foot” symbolism hinted at in some communities

Where you can experience it:

• Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh – atmospheric and historic
• St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh – Arrive early for a good seat, as this is quite popular.
• Glasgow Cathedral – very traditional and moving.
• St Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow – warmly lit, serene riverside cathedral
• St Giles’, Edinburgh – grand, formal and beautiful

Christmas Fire Festivals

While Hogmanay is more famous, a few Scottish communities still run midwinter fire traditions in December

• Biggar Yule Bonfire (Lanarkshire) – late December. The town builds a huge bonfire in the High Street around Christmas week. A very old Scottish Community fire tradition.
• Callander Winterfest Fireworks (Perthshire) – Draws on traditional Highland winter gatherings.

Pre-Christmas Ceilidhs

A major Scottish seasonal tradition is holding ceilidh dances in the weeks before Christmas.

You can experience a proper Scottish dance night:

Edinburgh

• Ghillie Dhu Christmas Ceilidh
• The Ceilidh Club (Assembly Roxy) Christmas Specials

Glasgow

• Sloans Friday Night Ceilidh
• Oran Mor Christmas Ceilidh
• The Piping Centre Ceildih

Scottish Christmas Foods

To experience proper Scottish festive food, look for:

• Black bun (fruit cake wrapped in pastry – more Hogmanay but appears from Christmas week)
• Cloutie dumpling
• Shortbread in festive tins
• Bannock / Selkirk bannock
• Cranachan
• Whisky hot toddies
• Clava cake (Highland fruit cake)

If you are looking for the best places to try these in December why not pay a visit to:

Glasgow

• The Ubiquitous Chip
• The Bothy
• Mharsanta
• Stravaigin
• Café Gandolfi
• Atlantic Bar and Brasserie (French cuisine but has a jazz band every weekend 2-5pm with some amazing Christmas décor)

Edinburgh

• Howie’s
• The Dome (for festive afternoon tea)
• Edinburgh’s Christmas Market food stalls
• Angels With Bagpipes

Traditional Scottish Christmas Markets & Craft Fairs

Though Christmas markets aren’t uniquely Scottish, many incorporate local Highland / Lowland traditions like crafts, clan tartans, smoked fish and storytelling

Where to go:

• Edinburgh Christmas Market – includes Scottish stalls
• Aberdeen Christmas Village – North-East traditions
• Inverness Christmas Market – Highland crafts, Gaelic gifts
• Stirling Castle’s Festive Events

Scottish Folklore & Winter Stories Events

December in Scotland often includes storytelling of winter folklore including:

• Selkies
• Cailleach (Winter Goddess)
• Kelpies
• Yule-tide
• Rowan Twig burning

Events you can attend to hear more about winter folklore:

• The Scottish Storytelling Centre (Edinburgh) – Christmas folklore nights
• National Trust properties – storytelling

Scottish Traditional Music Christmas Concerts

December is peak season for traditional music concerts with fiddles, pipes, clarsach and Gaelic songs.

Where you can watch them:

• Celtic Connections “warm-up” gigs, Glasgow
• The Tolbooth, Stirling
• The Piping Centre, Glasgow
• The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Highland Reindeer at Christmas – Aviemore/Cairngorms

The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd is Britain’s only free-ranging herd. December visits are a Scottish Christmas staple.

Where to find them:

Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, Glenmore (near Aviemore)

This is one of the most unique Scottish Christmas experiences

Whether you’re dancing at a ceilidh, listening to Gaelic carols by candlelight, or warming your hands beside a centuries-old bonfire, Scottish Christmas traditions offer warmth, community, history, and wonder.

Nollaig Chridheil!
Merry Christmas!