After a long year, December has flown by and Christmas is finally here.
For many Scots, Christmastime is the most magical part of the year. Whether it is spending quality time with loved ones or chowing down on yummy treats, it is easy to see why the festive period is so popular.
Christmas in Scotland has an unusual and rather troubled history. As reported by the Daily Record, the holiday was actually outlawed in the country hundreds of years ago amid the Scottish Reformation.
Due to the country not being able to celebrate Christmas publicly for many decades, there are fewer Scottish festive traditions than you might expect. However, there are still a few fascinating ones that are worth delving into.
The Daily Record has rounded up some of the best little-known Scottish Christmas traditions. From the burning of a rowan tree twig to Oidhche Choinnle, you might even want to try one for yourself.
What is your favourite Christmas tradition? Let us know in the comments below!
Nollaig Beag and the Yule log
While we of course are all familiar with Christmas, it wasn’t always known by this name in Scotland. In fact, for the ancient Celts, it was called ‘Nollaig Beag’.
Translating to ‘Little Christmas’, Nollaig Beag was traditionally celebrated on January 6. Observers would burn a large log with the face of an elderly woman etched onto it, meant to represent Cailleach — the goddess of the cold and the winds.
While it may sound strange, it was believed that the burning of the log would eradicate all nefarious winter spirits that still lingered. As a result, it was hoped that the year ahead would see milder weather and an earlier spring.
Sowan Nicht
Did you know that some Scots still refer to Christmas Eve as ‘Sowans Nicht’? It is thought that the name refers to ‘sowans’, which is a dish made from oat husks and fine meal left in water for multiple days until it soured.
This unique dish was once a Scottish festive staple, usually prepared in advance. It would then be enjoyed together as a family on December 24.
Rowan tree twigs
One traditional Christmas practice that some Scots still carry out to this day is the burning of a twig from a rowan tree. Doing so is said to eliminate bad feelings between family members before the new year begins.
Oidhche Choinnle
A lesser-known Scottish Christmas tradition is ‘Oidhche Choinnle’. The Gaelic phrase roughly translates to ‘night of the candle’.
As the name suggests, Oidhche Choinnle would see Scots put candles on their windows on Christmas Eve. It is thought that this helped guide the Holy Family, as well as welcome visitors to their home on a cold winter night.
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