CALEDONIADecember 2014

Features

Behind the beardAs Christmas day approach-es take a look back at Santa through the ages

Christmas like never before...Take a look at some of Scotlands top festive destinations this Christmas period

Alternative festive feastRead our review of Just Burgers and Beers and see what their alternative is to a traditional Christmas dinner

The A-Z of WinterSee what our writers think make the list of seasonal fun & treats in our A-Z of winter favourites.

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8Film ReviewWe take a look back at some of our favourite Christmas movies

Battle for No. 1Find out who is battling out for Christmas number one this year

RecipesWhy not make these delicious treats for you and your family.

D.I.YGet creative with the fami-ly and try these fun, festive activities.

Witches, Billy Goats and lots of foodDiscover the world around us and the traditions of many beautiful and far-off countries

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HogmanayFind out the secret behind this favourite Scottish celebration

22Get your Skates onSee what fun events are taking place this christmas at Glas-gows ice rink

Christmas Jumper mishapsMake sure to avoid these fes-tive jumper blunders...

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With December finally upon us, we thought it would be a fitting op-porunity to share our festive knowledge with our wonderful readers.

Take a jump back through history with our feature on Behind the Beard, discover cheap, fun ways to get creative this period and find out what we think makes this time of year so magical with our A-Z of Winter..

With Christmas Day fast approaching, why not take some time out and get creative with these fun, festive activities. Whether it is for you or the kids, these christmas favourites are loved all around.

This Christmas Eve why not get creative with the little ones by ditching the carrots and opting for Santa’s magic reindeer feed for Ru-dolph and his friends.With this simple combination of oats and ed-ible glitter, it is the perfect way to have some fun with the kids as Christmas day approach-es. All you need is ½ cup of oats, 1 tsp green edi-ble glitter and 1 tsp red edible glitter. Just mix together and separate into small individual pouches. Just before the kids go to bed, sprinkle the magic reindeer feed on your garden and wait

for the magic to happen.

Magical Reindeer Food

This year, why not make use of those left over ribbon scraps and make your very own tree ornament. Inspired by Fireflies and Mudpies, this homemade decoration is a perfect addition to your winter wonderland.All you need is:Sticks (6” in length)Ribbon Scraps (preferably greens and browns)Hot glue gunScissorsTwineIt’s as simple as this:Tie the strands of ribbon along your stick, leav-ing a small space at the top for the twine. Once tied, trim the ribbon in a diagonal shape so it looks like a triangle when you hold it up. Using the glue gun, stick a piece of twine on the top of the stick, make sure you tie the twine in a loop so you can hang this beautiful rustic

decoration anywhere around the house.

Scrap Ribbon Tree Ornament

If you love those traditional Christ-mas smells of cinnamon, cranberries and spiced orange then this one is for you!All you need is:One whole orange or just the peel1/2 cup cranberries1 Tbsp. whole cloves3 sticks of cinnamon, or a smal handful of cinnamon piecesa bit of grated nutmeg if desiredThis simple recipe requires you to quarter the orange, place all the in-gredients in a saucepan, fill the pan with water and place on the stove on the smallest burner, on the lowest setting. It simply requires you to re-fill the water as needed. This simple concoction will last for weeks, leaving your home smelling festive.

Stove Top Potpourri Mix

D.I.Y Christmas

As we all know, Christmas brings with it many festive traditions. Whether that is enjoying a nice mulled wine while putting up the Christmas tree, or eating mince pies while watching your favourite Christmas film. A tradition that is fast becoming a new signature Christmas must, is the Christmas Jumper. So this year make sure to take a look at my top three Jumper blunders, to avoid making a fool of yourself this season.

They are Santa’s favourite little helpers, but sadly Santa’s elves haven’t done a great job with this ‘not-so-festive’ christmas jumper blunder.We do try to see the funny side of this festive joke, however we do believe that maybe next time, you should leave those silly christmas puns for your christmas crackers.We recommend you avoid purchasing this festive disaster for your other half, and go for a more traditional Elf favourite.

Find this jumper at NewLook.co.uk

We don’t quite understand the logic behind this particular festive choice. Unless you or a loved one have a great love for sharks, then I would suggest you avoid this bizarre choice of christ-mas attire.Why not consider more festive animals this year, such as reindeer, penguins, robins or even an adorable polar bear!

Find this jumper at FatFace.com

Last but not least is my personal favourite! This rather daring choice for Christ-mas may amuse or offend depending on personal beliefs, so it may be best to avoid this option altogether. While it aims to provide a comical alterna-tive to the traditional Santa figure, I feel next year you should consider sticking to those traditional roots. Play it safe and try not to offend anyone this Christmas.

Find this jumper at ToxicFox.com

ChristmasJumper Blunder!

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Walking through the streets of Glasgow or Edinburgh can be a person’s worst

nightmare during this festive time of year. With the hustle and bustle of frantic Christmas shoppers, there is nothing more appealing than the thought of putting your feet up and relaxing by a beautiful log fire. Christmas day is no different. The kids wake up at the early hours of the morning, excited to see what gifts Santa has brought them, and so the chaos begins. Wrapping pa-per everywhere, children scream-ing with joy and happiness at their new toys; and soon the Christmas

lunch will need to be cooked, bringing with it friends and family to help celebrate this magical day. Without a doubt it is the busiest day of the year, whether you are spending it with family or friends. So why not spend your Christmas day a little differently this year?Relax next to a traditional log burning fire; Climb snow covered hills and visit Santa’s reindeers; and of course, enjoy a gorgeous three course Christmas dinner cooked by professional chefs. This year, why not make it a Christmas to remember and ex-perience the pleasure of some of Scotland’s most renowned hotels, castles, and lodges this festive

period, and celebrate Christmas in style.For those of you with families, the Newton Hotel in Inverness is the perfect choice. This stunning 19th century property is perfect for a relaxing getaway this Christmas. Like many hotels, the Newton Hotel offers a perfect three night Christmas Itinerary. With child friendly services, this is a great choice for all the family. While the grown-ups can enjoy the relaxa-tion of a stress free Christmas, the Newton will take care of all those magical moments. With Santa paying a visit to the children, and a games room in the hotel, your little ones will be sure to enjoy this

As the busiest time of year approaches, why not treat yourself to a festive getaway in some of Scotlands most beautiful locations. Whether it is with family or friends, these festive packages are an excellent choice this Christmas Day.

A Christmas like never before...

Visit the stunning wildlife this year in Aviemore... you don’t know who you’ll meet.

By Lauren Neilly

Christmas break as much as you. Another great family favourite is a trip to the Cairngorms National Park in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. If you wish to main-tain those traditional Christmas day values, then this could be a great option for you. With a range of log cabins and self-cater-ing lodges, Aviemore and the Cairngorms is truly a breath-taking, festive delight. By opting for a self-cater-ing option, you have more free-dom to do as you and your family wishes; whether that’s decorating the cabin, making Christmas dinner, or experiencing those traditional, family, Christmas day moments. The Cairngorms also plays host to some of the country’s most cared for landscapes, along with some of our favourite festive creatures – reindeers. Just 6 miles from Aviemore, you can visit these beautiful animals and really bring a smile to everyone face.For a much more traditional Scot-tish experience, why not treat you and your loved one to Christmas

at the Carlton Hotel in Edinburgh. This three night stay is perfect for couples who want to experience some Scottish charm this Christ-mas. This modern hotel wrapped in a Victorian disguise is located

in the heart of Edinburgh, offering you Princes Street, the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle and Waverly Station only minutes away. On Christmas Eve you will be greeted with a traditional Christmas sher-ry or whisky, and once unpacked you can enjoy a delightful cream tea in the lounge. In the evening you and other guests will be joined in the Highland Suite by Scottish dancers and Piper to entertain you throughout your meal. On Christ-mas day you can expect much of the same service, as you sit back and relax, listening to the Queen’s speech with a slice of yummy Christmas cake and a cup of tea.

Another favourite for couples is the Atholl Palace Hotel in Perth. With a Downton-esque feel to it, this Christmas getaway offers a lot more activity for its guests. With whisky tasting, Cocktail hour,

Christmas Carols and live en-tertainment, you’ll not be short of things to do. Again the hotel offers a child friendly service with a visit from Santa, however I recommend this package for much older customers. Christ-

mas evening you can indulge in some traditional parlour games and a fork buffet supper before getting a good night’s sleep for the Boxing Day festivities. On Boxing Day you will be whisked away to visit the House of Bruar, before spending an evening enjoying a hot beef buffet accompanied by some traditional jazz- what more could you want?So whether you want family fun, or traditional charm, Scotland has a lot to offer for you and your loved loves this Christmas.

Enjoy!

“With a range of log cabins and self-catering lodges, Aviemore and the Cairngorms is truly a

breath-taking, festive delight”

Experience the beauty of Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh, this Christmas period.