The origins of Christmas in Scotland can be traced back to the ancient Yule festival of the pagan Celts that took place around the time of the winter solstice, a traditional time of celebration to brighten the year's darkest days and persuade the sun to return. Over the years, the Christian Church gradually took over the festival for one of its own major celebrations, although some current Christmas traditions such as burning a Yule log, kissing under the mistletoe, and decorating the house with holly reveal the festival's pagan roots.

For centuries, the Presbyterian Church in Scotland ignored Christmas and it was not recognised as a holiday. The Scots reserved their main winter festivities for New Year, which is called Hogmanay. This attitude has been reversed since the 1950s and the Scots now enthusiastically celebrate Christmas.