Scottish Christmas – from Yuletide to Hogmanay – Inheritance of Rites

Scotland is geographically coalesced with England but culturally with Scandinavia. It has been politically dominated by both Vikings and English. Therefore Christmas in Scotland is an inheritance of intermingled Scandinavian and British rituals and notions. Since until recent past, Christmas in Scotland has been celebrated as a low key religious festival. Only in late nineties Scottish cities caught up with Christmas shopping spree and decorations.

How Christmas came in Scotland

During 4th century AD, the Catholic Church scheduled Christmas with the Mid-Winter Pagan festivals just to suppress paganism and also to take the festive air in favour. However in 1583, under leadership of John Knox the protestant movement banned celebration of Christmas for its pagan origin. In 1638, Edinburgh General Assembly even tried to banish Yuletide, too.
Laws banning Christmas were in force till 1958. Leaving some Catholic Christians, there was no mass celebration of Christmas till 1990s, when Christmas holiday came in fashion. Thus under pagan and protestant influence, Christmas in Scotland could not take the bustling festive holiday mood for over four hundred years. Instead all the festivities were concentrated with twenty four day Yuletide celebrations ending at Hogmanay on the New Year Night.

What is Yuletide and Hogmany

Yuletide is the occasion of arrival of Odin, the God of Norse mythology, in the twelfth month, i.e., in December. Odin has been believed to come in hooded cloak; to sit beside fire listening people and giving bread or coin if wished. Thus Odin may be the pagan avatar of Saint Nicholas.
The word Hogmanay may be derived from French “Homme est ne`” i.e., “Man is born” describing the birth of Christ, in 13th Century AD. Historically in Scotland, the birth of Christ was celebrated with solemnity and few days after the birth festivities commenced and continued till New Year and the twelfth night, Hogmanay. Traditionally ritual of giving gifts on Christmas, even now, is associated with Hogmanay.

Associated Customs

Many a pagan customs are still associated with Christmas in Scotland. They are peculiar and also have local variations. Some of them are as follows:
Firstfooting- according to popular Scottish notion, the luck of boarders in house is affected much by the first stranger stepping inside the house.
Cailleach- Cailleach is believed to be the Spirit of Winter represented by a piece of wood curving depicting face of woman and is burned to ashes to bad luck and enmity.
Steeling kiss with Mistletoe- on the faith of evergreen plants heal wound and increase fertility sprig of Mistletoe is hung on doorway to steal a kiss of the stranger.
Candle Light on Windows- to light the way of strangers.

There are many more beliefs regarding bulls, ashes and others.

Cuisines-

Traditional cuisine includes -

• Yule bread- traditional rye and wheat bread;
• Bannok cakes- of oatmeal;
• Suncakes- with hollow in the middle;
• Black Buns- fruit cakes;
• Yule log- Swedish chocolate cake.
• also turkey, salmon, and puddings.