Highland Yule Traditions

[HootinHoller]

Do you observe any?

I'll claim ignorance on which traditions might be from the Highlands, perhaps the yule log?

[davidlpope]

I think you'll find that Christmas was not celebrated in much of Scotland until relatively recently, due to Presbyterian adherence to the Regulative Principle of Worship. You might have better luck inquiring about Hogmanay.

[Peter Crowe]

I think you'll find that Christmas was not celebrated in much of Scotland until relatively recently, due to Presbyterian adherence to the Regulative Principle of Worship. You might have better luck inquiring about Hogmanay.

You are quite right David, Christmas only became a public holiday in Scotland in 1957 (which it hadn't been at least since the Scottish Reformation in 1560 or shortly thereafter). When my grandmother was a child in Macduff in the 1910's and 20's Santa Claus left gifts at the New Year.

[KentuckyCeltophile]

Do you observe any?

I'll claim ignorance on which traditions might be from the Highlands, perhaps the yule log?

I was wondering the same thing and whether there was a deeper connection to the Christmas and the Scotland in general. Here in the States, the Royal Stewart tartan is quite ubiquitous in the form of ribbons, wrapping paper, scarves, and other decorations. I'm not sure why but I like it. Then again, it may just be and my obsession to plaid.

I've encountered other people that wear a the RS tartan in some form not knowing what it is and claiming it looked "Christmassy". There are also collective dolls and figurines featuring "St. Nick from around the world" which depict Santa Claus wearing a kilt and playing bagpipes. For instance, Jim Shore and Buyer's Choice companies. Is that really how Santa Claus looks in Scotland?
Cheers,
KC

[HootinHoller]

I think you'll find that Christmas was not celebrated in much of Scotland until relatively recently, due to Presbyterian adherence to the Regulative Principle of Worship. You might have better luck inquiring about Hogmanay.

I thought I was avoiding Christmas specifically by saying Yule, which unless I have a serious misunderstanding was the name for the winter solstice celebrations? I guess I'll be googling Hogmany tonight.

[Father Bill]

Yule or Yuletide ("Yule time") is a pagan religious festival observed by the historical Germanic peoples, later being absorbed into and equated with the Christian festival of Christmas. The earliest references to Yule are by way of indigenous Germanic month names Ærra Jéola (Before Yule) or Jiuli and Æftera Jéola (After Yule). Scholars have connected the celebration to the Wild Hunt, the god Odin and the pagan Anglo-Saxon Modranicht.
Terms with an etymological equivalent to Yule are used in the Nordic countries for Christmas with its religious rites, but also for the holidays of this season. Yule is also used to a lesser extent in English-speaking countries to refer to Christmas. Customs such as the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, Yule singing, and others stem from Yule. A number of Neopagans have introduced their own rites.

[Father Bill]

Yule or Yuletide ("Yule time") is a pagan religious festival observed by the historical Germanic peoples, later being absorbed into and equated with the Christian festival of Christmas. The earliest references to Yule are by way of indigenous Germanic month names Ærra Jéola (Before Yule) or Jiuli and Æftera Jéola (After Yule). Scholars have connected the celebration to the Wild Hunt, the god Odin and the pagan Anglo-Saxon Modranicht.

Terms with an etymological equivalent to Yule are used in the Nordic countries for Christmas with its religious rites, but also for the holidays of this season. Yule is also used to a lesser extent in English-speaking countries to refer to Christmas. Customs such as the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, Yule singing, and others stem from Yule. A number of Neopagans have introduced their own rites.

So yes, you're right. Both ways.

[davidlpope]

I thought I was avoiding Christmas specifically by saying Yule, which unless I have a serious misunderstanding was the name for the winter solstice celebrations? I guess I'll be googling Hogmany tonight.

As far as I understand it, Yule was never celebrated in Scotland.

[Pleater]

Yule was celebrated with candles, given as gifts, with Yulbrod - Yule bread, and stolonbrod and what is called in my family Twelfth Cake, also called sun cake and it might be the same as black bread - ours is baked in a tin with a hole in the centre, which I believe is traditional and very pagan.

The puritans tried to suppress it, being a pagan knees up and jollity instead of the fasting and church going they did. They made laws against it - sent spies around to sniff out people baking with spices, they fined those who kept the feast.

Anything to do with fires being kept burning, lights left blazing and the curtains/shutters open late into the night, drinking hot alcoholic beverages with spices, eating sugary baking with spices and candied fruits, lots of roasted meat also with spices, fruits preserved in alcohol and sugar, huge pies the size of buckets with a dozen different meats with spices (again) plus pickles and preserves, also getting together with family and friends, hospitality to strangers was also part of it, I suspect that singing, music, dancing, mummers plays and handing out of food, clothing and firewood had more to do with Yule than Christmas.

The spirit called the Ghost of Christmas Present in Dickens Christmas Carol is very like Old Father Yule or other older gods who walk the earth at the turn of the year. The spirit's empty scabbard and the invitation 'come in and know me better, man' sum up the festival.

Livestock was given double rations of hay for two days before the festivities started for the people - though that might have just been to ensure they were well fed enough to stand being forgotten about or their keepers being in a drunken stupor from the night before....

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Jock Scot]

As I am from a family that does not bother too much about christmas and I am not too sure what traditions are generally upheld over christmas in Scotland, however the new year seems to be a far more important event to many. My family do have a get together sometime during the last few days of December though and we always lay a place at the table for absent friends.