From practicing Christmas celebrations in secret to warding off dangerous winter spirits, Scotland has an interesting history when it comes to Christmas.
Christmas was once banned in Scotland for 400 years!
The Winter Solstice was the original winter celebrations in Scotland. Neolithic pagans celebrated this before the invasion of the Vikings who brought 'Yule' in the late 700 AD. Yule or 'Jól' in Old Norse was used as another word for Odin or Big Feast. As Irish missionaries travelled to Scotland, many people started to believe in Catholicism. This may have also been exacerbated by the Roman invasion of Scotland, and people started to gather for 'Christ's Mass' each year to celebrate the birth of their saviour Jesus Christ.
However, as the Protestant reformation soared across Europe, Oliver Cromwell, who ruled over the UK in the late 1600s, banned 'Christ's Mass' as he and many other Protestants of parliament agreed that it was a Catholic and Pagan Holiday that went against the Protestant traditions. Cromwell convinced parliament to pass a law making it 'illegal to celebrate Yule vacations'. The Church of Scotland cracked down hard on Christmas. People were forbidden to bake Yule bread or mince pies, and anyone found baking or eating such foods would be prosecuted!
Despite the law being abolished in the rest of the U.K. around 20 years later, Scotland still upheld this law for the next 400 years due to the Scottish Kirk being deeply suspicious of anything related to Roman Catholicism or Paganism. People often hid there celebrations from others as it was deeply frowned upon.
It wasn't until 1958 that December 25th was recognised as a public Holiday. This meant prior to that year, everyone in Scotland was expected to work on Christmas day.
Despite the 400 year ban, some traditions survived from the Pagan 'Yule' celebrations.
Baking Yule Bread.
Thought to have originated in the Scottish islands of Orkney and Shetland, baking of the Yule bread was done by making a bread dough with caraway seeds into a three plaited loaf, then turned into a circle to represent the Sun. This tradition is thought to stem from the Pagan celebrations of light during the darkest times of the year. According to Scottish Folklore, the caraway seeds are said to represent the spirits of Winter.
Mistletoe and Holly.
Back when ancient druids inhabited Scotland, people used to bring greenery into their homes to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Mistletoe was a popular decoration as it was believed to invoke fertility for couples which is why many people now kiss underneath the mistletoe. Holly wreaths were originally made and placed outside the door to protect the home from dangerous spirits who came in through the icy cold wind of Winter.
Burning of the Rowan twig.
Most likely stemming (no pun intended) from Pagan traditions is the burning of the Rowan (ash tree) twig. It is thought that by doing this one can rid bad feelings and jealousy between family members. A tradition that is still upheld in some Scottish homes today.
The Cailleach.
In Scottish Gaelic 'Cailleach' translate to 'Old woman' or 'hag'. Thought to be a divine creature older than time, is the old hag of winter. Believed to be the deity who brought in the long nights and cold of Winter. A log carved in the shape or the face of Cailleach, would be displayed and then burned during Yule time to banish the cold darkness and dispel any lingering bad luck.
The First-Footing.
Speaking of bad luck, it is believed bad luck to enter another persons home without a gift for the host. The first person (first footer) to enter the home on Christmas Day is expected to bring a blessing such as coal, whisky, bread, salt, or more commonly a 'black bun' which is a sort of fruit loaf pie.
What would it have been like to celebrate Christmas in secret? Do you still have to work on Christmas Day? What will you be taking from the history of Christmas in Scotland? Comment below.
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