Scottish Highland Christmas Traditions and Holiday food.

[Jock Scot]

Don't forget that the Scots have been British for quite some time!

As I grew up in WW2 and the general shortages that went on well into the 1950's, Christmas was indeed a wool sock--kilt hose perhaps placed at the end of the bed. An orange and a few nuts and maybe a wee toy if we were lucky and we were the lucky ones! In those days it was more of a social event for us, as was New Year.

After the war, depending on where we were, Boxing day was and still is the main event for us. In England the traditional Boxing Day meet of the local fox hounds met on the lawn and if we were in Scotland we had the traditional Boxing Day shoot. As I grew, assorted bits of fishing tackle appeared at Christmas as did air rifles and later shot guns, cartridge bags, gun sleeves, riding boots, saddles, etc..

Again New Year just seemed to be an occasional "Big Bash" but usually just a fairly liquid family and friends gathering. Nothing seems to have changed that much for us I think. We do tend to remember, even today, those past with fond and humorous memories at these times too.

Whilst Christmas is historically and even to this day, not a big deal for Jock and his family, the one tradition that we do continue is that we always lay an extra place at the table for "absent friends". Quite often someone appears out of the blue and joins in with the family for Christmas luncheon.

Hope this helps.