Edinburgh to Countdown Christmas Celebrations

Christmas time is for most people a time when they want to spend time with their family and friends, and celebrate the good things in life. Giving and receiving gifts, eating good food, and enjoying celebrating life in many ways. For those with children to consider, Santa becomes a big part of the celebrations, and in Edinburgh they really go to town celebrating Santa in a big way at Christmas.

Every year, a walk takes place through West Princes Street Gardens down to the Grass Market. It’s no ordinary walk though, it’s called the Santa Stroll, and everyone who joins in with it pays a small fee (£10 for adults and £5 for children under 10), and dresses up as Santa. All the Santa’s take their stroll together, and it’s a sight to behold! Santa’s also get special deals from the market traders in the Grass Market on this special day to help them with their shopping. The money collected from this stroll goes to a fantastic cause too. It goes to Radio Forth’s ‘Cash for Kids’ appeal, and the ‘When you wish upon a star’ appeal as well, so needy and courageous children everywhere are helped by it.

Santa is also celebrated in a slightly unusual way at Leith Mills shopping centre too. Here, children can have breakfast with Santa! Mum’s and dad’s do have to pay a small fee for their young one’s to have this experience, but it’s a pretty special treat, and every child is given a gift by Santa at breakfast too. He’s also available to meet in his grotto at other times of the day too, but it’s breakfast with him that’s what makes this different from elsewhere in the country. Mum’s and dad’s can have a bite of breakfast while they wait too of course.

Lots of us like to decorate our homes with Christmas tree’s, lights, tinsel and other decorations, and we all know it gives our homes a really nice warm Christmassy feel to do this. In Edinburgh the streets of the city centre are decorated really spectacularly too, and an evening stroll with the kids down them makes a pleasant Christmassy treat, and one that’s totally free too.

Snowmen and ice skating, hot drinks round the fire, and going to watch shows are all a part of Christmas for many people, but even if it doesn’t get cold enough for snow, Edinburgh has the Winter Wonderland in East Princes Street Gardens at Christmas where people can go to ice skate and to watch shows that are put on here. They have a special mini ice rink for smaller children as well so that they can join in without the risk from older children and adults bumping into them by mistake.

Nativity plays and Carol Concerts take place all across the city, and whether you are local or visiting, you will be welcome at the many church services which take place at this time of year too.