The December festive period can be a bittersweet time away from home as the possibilities look endless and limited at once. It is the end of the year; the rush of essays/exams is fading, and you find yourself in a sort of in-between time when you actually rest before turning the engine back on for the next semester. Unsurprisingly, a great deal of people who do not return home ‘escape’ Glasgow’s coldest and darkest days to enjoy more pleasing weather to the South. Others, like me, cannot afford (or do not wish) to do so and will face nights starting 3.30 p.m. and a rather chilling wind that announces Christmas.

What a somber way to begin, no? I just do not wish you to take for granted that winter can be challenging especially to those coming from warmer weather – even more so from the geographical South where the holidays mark the beginning of summer. The actual experience is in fact way less daunting than it may look at first glance. For one, the darkest days are when the city lights shine brighter and walking around town (please don’t forget your gloves) was a very relaxing experience for me. Even though I grew up embedded in the ‘Christmas spirit’ I am not the biggest enthusiast for specific traditions, yet the lights and decoration spread all over town have a great way of softening the spirit and bringing up good memories from home.

Another great thing about the festive periods for me was that the brief moments of sun revealed some of the most beautiful days I’ve seen in the city. This is especially when the light reflects in thin layers of ice and turns some very ordinary views into landscapes – and landscapes into, well, more dazzling landscapes. I would recommend walking around one of Glasgow’s many parks and enjoy the sunny hours as much as you can. Thinking of landscapes, you can always try and make a day visit to some nearby places that are affordable through a short trip by train or bus. Edinburgh (1.5 hours by bus and 10 pounds round trip) and Loch Lomond (1 hour by train from Central Station and 8 pounds return ticket) come to mind. I have not been to the second but was told that it is worth the visit on sunny winter days, and Edinburgh was just beautiful on the snowy day I’ve been there. Just be advised to check the weather before picking your day trip (or even the park walk) because days can be quite surprising in Glasgow and its surroundings.

The Duke of Wellington outside GOMA in Glasgow at Christmastime

Edinburgh light-up sign and the Scott Monument in the Princes Street Festive Market at night

Finally, I could not refrain from talking about the festive days themselves. Whatever religion or tradition you come from, be aware that Christmas here is taken as a proper holiday, that is, do not expect places to be open on December 25 (this includes subway and train stations!). It is also different to my experience in Brazil as here the 26th is also a kind of holiday (so-called Boxing Day) while the 24th which I always knew as a sort-of-holiday – is basically a normal day. If you live at University Accommodation, you will likely have some kind of event to spend a few hours of this holiday; yet be aware that there are not many options elsewhere. I was lucky to have some very good friends that took me in their homes and awarded me very ‘local’, family experiences that surely brought up some good memories of home and appeased the heavier days of Christmas when places are closed, and people are generally away. If your alternative is staying by yourself and this is challenging for you as it would be for me, do not refrain from. You will see that people here are very welcoming and be happy to have you over (or at least kindly lie to you about it, who knows.

The New Years’ time is less challenging from a staying in Glasgow perspective. Even though January 1st is a full, proper holiday, events for Hogmanay (how New Years is called here) are as varied as they are packed with people. If you know that you will be in Glasgow for this period, look up events in advance because tickets/bookings are overwhelmingly sold out. Apart from that, the options vary from comedy shows to concerts, parties in clubs, pubs, and even street events. I was not in any because once again I went to a friend’s place, but looking at alternatives I stumbled upon an array of possibilities ranging in prices, styles, and places, so you should not have a big struggle with that.

All in all, this is probably my longest account of student life as it reflects the real and potential contradictions of choosing (or having) to stay over for a period when a lot of people don’t. I hope you take from my experience that it is okay to struggle and feel the weight of the festive period, especially within the darkest and coldest days of the season. Still, there are some ways to circumvent, or at least soften the potential impacts. Well, you may also be one to just fully appreciate this period as one of quiet, reflexive moments; there surely is enough time for that.

Photos: João Pedro Casanova

First published: 5 February 2025

<< Hear from our students