Light Up Leith: how to get involved with Leith's living advent calendar

Taking inspiration from her home city of Lancaster, 28-year-old Hannah Ormston, decided to encourage a little Christmas spirit by lighting up Leith in the form of a ‘living advent calendar’.

A window lit up on December third as part of the living advent calendar.

Ms Ormston lives in Edinburgh now and said that since she couldn’t get home for Christmas this year she was thinking of ways to raise her spirits while living in Leith.

She told the Evening News: “It’s like a living advent calendar, so throughout the month different numbers will be revealed in people’s windows and we have an interactive map where you can see where each window will be lit up.

“It’s the more the merrier as well, in the street where I’m from in Lancaster they are limited because it’s just a street but because Leith is quite big it’s been really nice as more people are able to get involved.”

Day number five of the living advent calendar

Ms Ormston is running the event by herself and is delighted as she already has over 90 Leith residents taking part. You can visit the website if you are keen to get involved in the festive fun.

She said: “When I started, I thought if I got 24 people that would be amazing but actually people are so interested in the idea that it’s been really nice expanding it further.

“Having several windows for each day is good as well because it takes the pressure off the people taking part.

"It’s just been so nice having an activity to bring everyone together and to focus on something positive at the end of this strange year.”

Another window for December fifth

Several people have approached her asking if Light Up Leith is raising money for charity but Ms Ormston said that in the end she decided that sometimes it’s “good to do things just because”.

If anyone does want to make a donation after seeing the windows, she asks them to consider donating to Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts or a Leith based charity of their choice.

She added: “I'm also really keen for Light Up Leith to be as inclusive as possible, so there is an ongoing materials collection/drop of point being hosted by the cafe Ostara, near the

Shore if anyone is interested in participating but may not have the funds to do so.”

Another window display on the third of December

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