I've spent every Christmas in Scotland, and our festive markets and holiday traditions make it the perfect place for a winter vacation
Mikhaila Friel
- I was raised in Glasgow, Scotland, and Christmas is my favorite time of year in the city.
- Our annual Christmas market, the city's festive lights, and the overall atmosphere are incredible.
I was born and raised in Scotland, and I firmly believe it's the most magical place to spend the holidays.
I was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city, which has approximately 1.6 million residents, according to World Population Review.
The festive season always feels magical here, and I'd certainly recommend visiting if you are planning a winter getaway.
In my opinion, Glasgow is unmatched when it comes to our annual Christmas market, which has food stalls, live performances, carnival rides, and ice skating.
Christmas markets were thought to have originated in Vienna, Austria, in 1298, according to The Guardian, and since then, they have become a staple across Europe.
Not to mention, the weather is so cold in Glasgow that there's always a likely chance of a white Christmas.
Scotland has many Christmas markets, but my favorite one is held on Glasgow's George Square.
If you happen to be traveling around Scotland this winter, I'd recommend visiting Christmas markets in Glasgow as well as Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh.
Glasgow has a couple of Christmas markets, but my favorite — and the largest — is held at George Square in the city center.
The George Square market is renowned for its Christmas lights, the iconic Ferris wheel, and the ice skating rink.
It opened on December 1 and runs until January 8, according to What's on Glasgow.
George Square is a beloved city landmark and one of my favorite spots to visit in the winter, due to its festive flair and vibrancy.
George Square opened in 1787 and is considered the very center of Glasgow, according to Scottish Tours.
The site was named after King George III and was originally a residential square, but today the square and its surrounding area is occupied by businesses and the City Chambers building, the headquarters for the city council.
For most of the year, the square is occupied by locals and tourists alike who eat lunch on the benches. But in December, a Christmas tree, twinkly lights, and the beloved market takes over.
This year, I visited the market on a Monday evening, but you would have thought it was a weekend thanks to the lively atmosphere.
I visited the Christmas market with a friend on Monday, December 5.
Despite it being a weeknight, the place was packed and there was a joyful, carefree atmosphere that you usually only encounter in Glasgow on the weekends.
We started by exploring the market stalls and eyed some delicious-looking cheese, chocolate, churros, and candy.
There were stalls for just about everything you can imagine, and Christmas music played from speakers. Even though it was a freezing cold night, everyone seemed happy to be there.
Another stall we passed sold wreaths and decorations.
It wasn't just food for sale. Other stalls sold wreaths, Christmas tree baubles, and other decorations.
There was a swing carousel at the square's edge, but I wasn't brave enough to try it.
I loved watching people screaming and cheering as they spun around on the carousal while nearby speakers played "Last Christmas." But I felt uneasy and slightly nauseous at the prospect of trying it myself due to how fast it appeared to be going.
After roaming the market for a while, my friend and I snacked on a fresh box of donuts from a vendor, which cost £6, or around $7.35.
The donuts were so yummy that I only remembered to take a photo when we were down to just two of them.
Once we finished checking out the vendor stalls, we found a beer garden within a gazebo where people enjoyed hot and cold beverages, and a musician serenaded people.
There were no tables available when we arrived, so we stood and watched as a live musician singing covers of rock and pop songs serenaded those sitting at tables. The entire thing was just hilarious and in stereotypically unabashed Scottish fashion.
I was particularly excited to see the return of the open-air ice skating rink, as this was the first year it's been on since before the pandemic.
The rink was filled with people at the beginning of the night, but by the time we left, it appeared to be closed for cleaning.
As we departed the market, I realized that you could see festive displays just about everywhere you went in the city.
Whether it was the lights on George Square, surrounding streets, or department stores, it was a joy to walk around the city and take it all in.
But Christmas in Scotland is about more than just our festive markets. One of my favorite parts about the holiday season is gathering with loved ones and sharing traditions.
Like in many countries and cultures that celebrate Christmas, people in Scotland who celebrate tend to enjoy festive meals with family and friends.
My partner and I recently hosted a Christmas lunch for our friends at our apartment in Glasgow. We incorporated many traditions, from the classic Scottish Christmas meal with turkey and pulling crackers to giving and receiving gifts through a "Secret Santa" exchange.
It was a fantastic day.
My partner made Christmas lunch for around 15 guests in our one-bedroom apartment.
The Christmas lunch included turkey, Brussels sprouts, stuffing, potatoes, and vegetables and was served as a buffet for people to help themselves.
As my partner is the better cook, he made most of the food.
I chopped and peeled the carrots, which we all know is the most important job.
Before our guests arrived, the first snow of the year began to fall.
We only received a slight dusting of snow that day, but it was enough to put us in the holiday spirit.
If you are looking to celebrate the holidays somewhere with a lively atmosphere and immersed in tradition, I'd undoubtedly recommend my hometown.
My December has been filled with festivities, food, and snow, and I'd recommend Scotland to anyone looking for a holiday getaway destination.
Glasgow is renowned for its restaurants, so if you don't know anybody in the city who can host Christmas dinner, I'd recommend checking out the People Make Glasgow website for its selection of Scottish-themed restaurants, cafés, and pubs.
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