Is there a better place to be during the festive season than Scotland? We think not, and we’re not even being biased. Scotland is magical all year round; there’s no denying that.
But nothing compares to when there’s a chill in the air and the traditional Scottish festive traditions start to appear. Even if you don’t usually like the cold, you’ll find yourself wandering the markets looking for yule log or clootie dumplings. Not technically Scottish traditions, per se, but they’re some of the tastiest treats that go with them.
If you’re planning on renting a motorhome and experiencing Scotland this festive season, here are the best Scottish festive traditions you’re likely to see.
Rowan Tree Burning
Rowan tree burning for Scottish people is such a festive thing that some of us could probably benefit from. Scots will burn a twig from a rowan tree to cleanse negative emotions. Depending on how many negative emotions you’ve experienced this year, you might want to burn more than one twig.
Scottish people believe that the negative emotions they’ll remove are along the lines of jealousy or mistrust between friends, family, and neighbours, but we suppose you can apply it to anything. From that, the tradition states that there will be harmony and positivity for the Christmas period and the New Year.
The origins come from Scottish folklore that says this beautiful tree will protect against evil spirits and bring good fortune. If you’re going to Scotland soon, it won’t be long until you see rowan tree twigs for sale in florists and local stores.
Hogmanay and First-Footing
Hogmanay, New Year’s Eve, is one of the most well-known Scottish traditions. It has its own name because, to the Scots, it’s so much more than New Year’s Eve. It’s a massive cultural festival that includes street parties, fireworks, and ancient traditions.
One of the most ancient is the tradition of first-footing. It’s simply the first person to go back into the home after midnight; they’re considered the luckiest. Anyone selected as the first to go back into the home always sees it as a privilege, with it being tradition in many homes to welcome the first person through the door with a glass of whisky or a gift.
If you’re in Scotland for Hogmanay, the streets will be absolutely packed full of people. And not even the cities, although they always have big Hogmanay events. Individual streets are lined with families and groups of friends, especially in the minutes before midnight. And when it does reach midnight, you’ll almost always hear the beloved song Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns on the streets.
Festive Food Traditions
A lot of what makes Scotland so incredibly festive is the food. It’s as much of a tradition as anything else. Here are some of the local favourites.
Baking Yule Bread
Baking yule bread is so nostalgic if you’re from Scotland. It’s more common in areas such as Shetland and Orkney, but if you find yourself at a Scottish Christmas market, you will most definitely see plenty of freshly baked yule bread.
Yule bread was originally a pagan tradition linked to the Winter Solstice and Viking settlers. The traditional circular shape symbolises the sun and is made with caraway seeds that are linked to folklore and said to scare off evil spirits during the festive season.
Cranachan
You might have heard about yule bread before. A Christmas yule chocolate log is common across the UK. It might not be as traditional as yule bread, but the yule log is something most people have heard about.
Cranachan is more unique, but it’s by far one of the most delicious treats you’ll find in Scotland during the festive period. It’s a delightful dessert made of oats, fruit and cream.
The tradition of cranachan actually started as a celebration of the raspberry harvest in August, with raspberries being one of the main berries baked into the cake. As time went on, it gradually became one of the most-loved festive desserts.
Cootie Dumplings
We’re sure most people definitely haven’t heard about cootie dumplings. They’re not as random as they sound. Cootie dumplings are simply a spiced pudding filled with dried fruits. To cook, it’s wrapped in a cloth and simmered in water until it’s ready to eat with custard.
We can compare it most closely to a Christmas pudding, but Scottish style. If you’re Scottish, it’s the type of nostalgic Christmas treat that really reminds you of Christmas.
We’re almost at the festive season in Scotland. The supermarkets are already displaying Christmas decorations, and it won’t be long until we hear Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé blasting from all corners of the street. There’s no better time to visit Scotland and experience the festive traditions!