For Christmas break of my forth year in vet school my parents decided to visit me in Scotland. I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to experience a Scottish Christmas and Hogmanay (New Year). Stirling and Edinburgh castles were both decorated for Christmas with Santa in residence at Stirling Castle.

In addition to several fine meals out, a homemade Scottish Christmas feast, a Big Band Christmas concert, and a Hogmanay concert we did several day trips out from Glasgow. Our first trip headed north along Loch Lomond to Rannoch Moor and Glen Coe in the highland. With fresh snow on the hills it was absolutely stunning.

Another trip was east to the ruined Melrose Abbey, where the heart of Robert the Bruce is supposedly buried, with a stop at the David Livingstone Museum, Thirlestane Castle, and Neidpath Castle.

We also visited an old Roman fort, Bar Hill Fort (2nd century), along the Roman Antonine Wall just outside of Glasgow in Kirkintilloch. The fog was heavy all day which provided a suitable setting to imagine pictish warriors massing to attack the fort. On our way back we stopped for dinner at my favorite Glasgow restaurant, The Stables, where we had an awesome dinner with hot mulled wine!

Pollock Park in South Glasgow made for another Christmas treat with the rooms all decorated for Christmas and a gift bazaar for last minute shopping. Also nearby is the House of an Art Lover built from plans drawn by C. R. Mackintosh, Glasgow's most famous art nouveau artist.

Our final day trip was east again in an attempt to find the farm at which my ancestors had lived for 200 years before they emigrated to America in the 1850's. Todshawhill farmhouse is no longer standing, but it was great to look out over the valley and have a real connection with the land. The Scoons would have been sheep farmers due to the high elevation and rugged terrain of the area and the area is beautiful. Doing a bit of genealogy research we think we have traced the Scoons back to the 1500's in the area of Melrose, Scotland.

Christmas in the UK

Christmas traditions in the UK include Christmas "crackers." Two people pull the ends of the crackers and when it breaks, there is a small fireworks bang and you get goodies like paper hats, riddles, mini screwdriver sets, puzzles, etc.

Food wise, you have to have mince pies (made from dried fruit) and Christmas pudding (a moist steamed fruit cake) with custard sauce for desert.