When Was Christmas First Celebrated In Scotland

The reason christmas was not celebrated until recently go back to the time of john knox in the 1580 s as it was seen to be papist in origin the ban was strictly enforced in law.

When was christmas first celebrated in scotland. With the scottish reformation a clear stand against the observance of christmas was taken by the kirk church in 1560 and again in 1566. Many scots practice first footing on new year s eve. As such in scotland the presbyterian church of scotland discouraged the observance of christmas and though james vi commanded its celebration in 1618 attendance at church was scant. Christmas day did not become a public holiday until 1958 in scotland boxing day only in 1974.

Most continental reformed churches approved that confession and its specific approval of christmas observance. 12 13 the new year s eve festivity hogmanay was by far the largest celebration in scotland. Today it is widely celebrated along with the scottish new year called hogmanay. The giftgiving public holidays and feasting associated with mid winter were traditionally held between 11 december and 6 january.

Like all the countries around the world christmas is an important festival celebrated with great pomp and mirth. Christmas is celebrated on 25th december in scotland. The parliament of scotland officially abolished the observance of christmas in 1640 claiming that the church had been purged of all superstitious observation. Until the early 20th century christmas was celebrated quietly and discreetly.

Amazingly this dour joy crushing attitude lasted for 400 years. Until the 1960s christmas day was a normal working day for most people in scotland. Christmas in scotland was actually banned in the 17th for religious reasons. The second helvetic confession of 1566 recognized the celebration of christmas by the church.

It may surprise many people to note that christmas was not celebrated as a festival and virtually banned in scotland for around 400 years from the end of the 17th century to the 1950s. The reason for this dates back to the years of protestant reformation when the straight laced kirk proclaimed christmas as a popish or catholic feast and as. Prior to the reformations of 1560 christmas in scotland then called as the yule was celebrated according to catholic norms. The tradition of celebrating christmas was banned here for nearly 400 years until the 1950 s.

It was therefore celebrated very quietly in scotland and this remained the case until the 20th century. It only became a public holiday in 1958 with most of the public going about their daily. Hogmanay was the real traditional celebration.