Why was Christmas banned in Scotland for 400 years?

Did you know that Christmas was banned in Scotland for nearly 400 years? It’s a fascinating chapter in Scottish history that many people outside, and even inside, Scotland don’t know much about.

The ban on Christmas dates back to the Protestant Reformation in the late 16th century. In 1560, Scotland officially adopted a Calvinist approach to Christianity, led by John Knox and the Church of Scotland (also known as the Kirk). The Kirk saw Christmas as a Catholic celebration, tied to what they considered to be extravagant and unbiblical traditions.

The celebration of Christmas, with its feasting, dancing, and merry-making, clashed with the strict Presbyterian emphasis on simplicity and piety. In 1640, the Scottish Parliament officially passed an act abolishing the observance of "Yule" (the old name for Christmas in Scotland), declaring it a time for work, not celebration. Ministers were even instructed to hold church services on Christmas Day, not to celebrate, but to preach against the holiday!

For centuries, Christmas in Scotland was a quiet affair. While England reinstated Christmas festivities after the Restoration in 1660, Scotland remained firm in its opposition. Many Scots worked on Christmas Day, treating it as an ordinary weekday.

It wasn’t until 1958 that Christmas Day became a public holiday in Scotland. Boxing Day followed suit much later, in 1974. By then, the Scots had already embraced the New Year (Hogmanay) as their big winter celebration, a tradition that still defines the season for many.

Today, Christmas in Scotland is a magical time, blending festive traditions like markets, ceilidhs, and winter wonderlands with a uniquely Scottish charm. But the centuries-long ban serves as a fascinating reminder of Scotland’s complex history and the enduring influence of the Kirk.