Why Many in Scotland Don’t Celebrate Christmas

When most people think of Scotland, their minds go to bagpipes, castles, tartans, and rugged landscapes. But one surprising part of Scottish history—and one that still shapes culture today—is how many Scots grew up in homes or communities where Christmas wasn’t celebrated at all. As we prepare to plant a church in Inverness, this unique cultural reality has captured our attention and deepened our sense of calling.

A History Many Don’t Know

For hundreds of years, Christmas wasn’t a major celebration in Scotland. In fact, during the 16th and 17th centuries, the Scottish Reformation—deeply influenced by John Knox and the rise of strict Presbyterianism—outlawed Christmas completely. The Reformers believed Christmas had too many Catholic and pagan connections, and therefore should not be observed.

So for centuries, December 25th in Scotland was just another workday. Schools stayed open. Shops stayed open. People went about business as usual. Christmas Day didn’t even become an official public holiday in Scotland until 1958, long after it had been celebrated widely in the rest of the UK.

A Cultural Ripple That Still Lingers

Even after Christmas became a holiday, the mindset didn’t change overnight. Many families, especially in the Highlands and rural areas, continued living the way they always had—treating Christmas as a quiet, simple day rather than a season of festivity.

For generations, Scottish Christmas wasn’t marked by big trees, bright decorations, or elaborate celebrations. Instead, Hogmanay—the Scottish New Year—became the main winter holiday, full of traditions, gatherings, and community celebration.

This history means that even today:

• Some Scots aren’t very festive around Christmas

• Many treat Christmas as a quiet family day rather than a spiritual celebration

• A large number of communities don’t have strong church traditions around Advent or the birth of Christ

• Secularism and post-Christian culture have filled the gap left by centuries without Christmas observance

  
  

The Impact on Faith Today

When a culture grows up without Christmas as a deeply spiritual event, the story of Jesus’ birth often becomes distant or unfamiliar. In many places throughout Scotland, especially in the Highlands, the church has either faded or disappeared entirely.

This reality is part of why Scotland has become one of the most spiritually desolate regions in the Western world. Some reports even show that there are more Christians in a single small town in the U.S. than in entire Scottish regions.

But here’s the beautiful part: a lack of tradition means an openness to rediscovering truth.

A Growing Opportunity

As Scotland continues to change, many people—especially younger generations—are asking spiritual questions again. They’re curious. They’re searching. And they’re open to conversations about Jesus because they aren’t weighed down by cultural baggage or “church hurt” from Christmas traditions.

There’s a hunger for meaning, hope, and community. And the Christmas story—God stepping into our broken world to bring light and salvation—offers exactly that.

Why This Matters to Us

As Lisa and I prepare to plant a church in Inverness, we’re stepping into a land where the Christmas story is not overly familiar… but it is deeply needed.

Scotland doesn’t need more religion; it needs the living story of Jesus.Not a holiday.Not a tradition.But a Savior.

And in a place where Christmas once disappeared, the Light of Christ is ready to shine again.