Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, it is unlikely that many of us will be planning any business meetings on Wednesday 25 December as the University and most businesses enjoy a well deserved seasonal break.

Christmas is often seen as a relatively new holiday in Scotland, introduced from England and America during the latter half of the twentieth century. Christmas Day was still a 'working day' in many industries into the 1950s and 1960s although it had long been celebrated as a holy festival. However, it has a longer and chequered history.

Some Christmas traditions survive from the days of Iol or Yule, having been introduced by our Scandinavian forefathers. Yule was the festival that celebrated the winter solstice. From 6th to 10th centuries, the Vikings dominated Scottish society, not converting to Christianity until the 900s. Theirs is the tradition of the Yule log that burned at their feast of Yule.

The early Christian Church had a successful marketing plan which always tried to supplant a pagan festival with a Christian one. So on the birthday of the unconquered sun - Saturnalia - people were encouraged to continue to dance round their bonfires but instead of Thor, it was to be done in honour of the King of Kings. The festival was changed from the debauchery of the Vikings to the midnight bells calling for Mass on Christmas Eve.

Some midwinter ceremonies have continued - the cutting of mistletoe, the bringing in of evergreens and the eating of festive fayre. Easter had been the main festival of Celtic Church but after Queen Margaret, Christmas grew in favour. Holyrood Palace was awash with feasting, music and dancing during the 12 days of Christmas.

The Reformation in Scotland in the mid 16th century suppressed existing religious rite and custom including Christmas, although people kept up the customs of their ancestors. On Yule Day in 1574, people in Aberdeen were charged for 'playing, dancing and singing filthy carols'. Guisers celebrating Yule were fined.

Finally, in 1638, Christmas was banned - not just the customs, but as a holiday. Hence, Yuletide customs moved to the end of the 12 days of Christmas to New Year. Its marking ceased to be a community event and more of a family and social gathering. Ironically, it was the pagan customs that survived - decorating with evergreens or bringing in the Yule log.

Christmas, then, ceased to be kept in the 17th century but it has fought back as a religious holy day and a secular celebration in Scotland. By the mid 19th century when the Christmas tree was adopted by the rest of the UK, it was quickly adopted in Scotland along with the Christmas card.

A little known fact ﾖ which neatly demonstrates the moving of Christmas celebrations to the end of the festive period - is that the first Yuletide card in the United Kingdom appeared in the shop window of a Leith publisher (Charlie Drummond) in December 1841. 'A gude New Year And mony o' them' it declared.

Two years later, the first Christmas card appeared in London. Americanisation has also a lot to do with the re-introduction of Christmas in Scotland but although New Year is the holiday, Christmas has always been the Holy Day.

**With thanks to the Glasgow University Archives Services for providing this information**

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First published: 17 December 2002