Scottish Christmas traditions: Here are 6 Scottish traditions and folklore at Christmas time
By Rachel Mackie
Published 24th Dec 2022, 04:45 GMT
From marking the winter solstice to scaring children with a sinister creature come to punish them for being naughty – here are some historic Christmas traditions from Scotland.
Tis the season to be jolly, and we have many traditions to bring us all closer together, from sharing turkey dinners to singing Christmas songs.
Here are a few interesting Scottish traditions and festive folklore that you might, or might not, know about.
Also known as "The Veiled One" is a Celtic winter goddess of the cold and the wind. She was a creator and a destroyer, and would determine how long the winter would last. She was neither good nor evil, an immortal being, she would return to her youth in the spring, ageing again in the winter. The Celts would pile up stones for her, to give her shelter, and in return, she would bring fertility to the land. Photo: Wiki Commons
A long-held tradition amongst Scottish families is burning a branch from a Rowan Tree during the festive season. They did this as it was said to clear away bad feelings, mistrust or jealousy between family and friends. Photo: ttretjak via Canva Pro
. Crom Dubh na Nollaig - The dark Christmas spirit
The arrival of ‘Crom Dubh na Nollaig’ or ‘the dark crooked one of Christmas’ was marked by the sound of wind howling in the chimney. It would come to terrorise children who had misbehaved. This legend is not dissimilar to the European myth of the Krampus. Photo: via WikiCommons
Fire had great symbolism for the ancient Celts, and these traditions still bleed into modern day. Scots would light a candle in the window to help guide travellers safely on their journey. Fire can also represent the sun during the winter solstice. Photo: Wikicommons
Yule bread is made on Shetland and Orkney to celebrate the ancient belief that the sun would stand still for 12 days during winter. They celebrated, and baked bread to bring prosperity through out the coming year. Photo: Wikicommons
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