Tourist information

Events in Scotland
There are lots exciting events in Scotland taking place each year. From our fantastic,
year-round festivals, historic national holidays, time-honored traditions, and eccentric
cultural celebrations, Scotland has much to be proud of !

Winter Festivals
Scotland's Winter Festivals such
as St Andrew's Day, Hogmanay
and Burns Night, celebrate
Scotland's rich culture and
heritage.

Hogmanay:
Most people know that
Hogmanay is the Scots word
for New Year, but theres no
consensus on why its actually
called that. Some believe it
originated from Gaelic or
Norman-French. Here are some
of the theories.

For a long time from the 17th

century, celebrating Christmas
was either banned or
discouraged, and Hogmanay was
the focus of winter merriment
and family get-togethers.
Bonfires and fire festivals were
organised to banish evil spirits,
and redding the house
involved a ritual cleaning the
home (the fireplace in
particular) in preparation for
the next year.

St Andrews Day :
St Andrew was a Galilean
fisherman, he was one of Jesuss
12 apostles, and was known for
being strong, sociable and fair,

encouraging people to share what

they had with those in need.
On 30 November, St Andrew is
believed to have been crucified
on a diagonal cross, which gave
the inspiration for the name
(Scotlands Saltire) and the shape
of the flag which is white
diagonal cross over a blue
background. St Andrew is also the
patron saint of Greece, Russia,
Barbados and Romania. St
Andrews Day is a wonderful
opportunity to celebrate Scottish
culture, food and dance. Initially,
it was a way for homesick Scots
to get together and help each
other out; the first Society of St
Andrews was set up in
Charleston, South Carolina, on 30
November, 1729, dedicated to
offering support to Scottish
migrants in distress.

Nowadays, its an opportunity to party

Scottish dancing, singing, storytelling,
bagpipes and, of course, a feast featuring
haggis and whisky. And with more than 40
million people around the world claiming
Scottish ancestry, thats a lot of
celebration.

with

Year of Innovation,
Architecture and
Design
Edinburgh is Scotlands shining
capital city: an architectural
jewel with its contrasting Old
and New towns, a place packed
with history from his Castle to
his Palace. It is also the world's
leading festival city.

Edinburgh
Festivals
Military tattoo
The Tattoo is an iconic
Edinburgh institution,
and a sellout year
after year

Music , dance and

precision display with
the Massed Pipes and
Drums, the Massed
Military Bands,
cultural troupes,
singers and the
poignant refrain of
the Lone Piper against
the stunning backdrop
of Edinburgh Castle.
Each year's Tattoo is
very much a 'global
gathering' showcasing the
talents of musicians
and performers from
every corner of the
globe.
Each and every Royal
Edinburgh Military
Tattoo is different
from the last. The
Tattoo embraces
different themes;
nature, creativity and
Scotland's

homecoming are just

some of the concepts
explored in recent
times.
More than 13 million
people have attended
the Tattoo, with an
annual audience of
around 220,000. In
addition, around 100
million people see the
Tattoo each year on
international
television. Not a
single performance of
the Tattoo has ever
been cancelled.

Edinburgh
International
Festival
Every August, the
Edinburgh
International Festival
transforms one of the
world's most beautiful
cities, presenting
three exhilarating
weeks of the finest
creators and
performers from the
worlds of the arts for everyone.
Edinburgh's six major

theatres and concert

halls, a few smaller
venues and often
some unconventional
ones too, come alive
with the best music,
theatre, opera and
dance from around
the globe.

Edinburgh Art
Festival
Edinburgh Art Festival
is Scotland's largest
celebration of the
visual arts. For the
month of August, the
Festival brings
together Edinburghs
leading galleries,
museums and artistrun spaces, alongside
new public art
commissions by
established and
emerging artists and
an innovative
programme of special
events - the vast
majority of which are
free to attend.

Highland Games
Highland Games are a
unique mix of sports, culture
and community. The Scottish
Highland Games is one of
the most popular events in
Scotland, with visitors and
residents alike. If you visit
between May and
September, youre bound to
catch a gathering or two
somewhere in the country.