Scottish Yuletide and Hogmanay Traditions [Re-Release]

Scottish Yuletide and Hogmanay Traditions [Re-Release]

Author: The Scottish Folklore Podcast December 14, 2025 Duration: 25:10

Join Jenny as she explores some of the many Yuletide and Hogmanay traditions, customs, rituals, and rites that have been practised in Scotland over the millennia. From ancient burial cairns being aligned with the setting winter solstice sun, to different types of divination, cow-hides and clubs, and of course, first-footing, these traditions are part of the celebration of the darkest days of the year, and the rebirth into a new cycle of life. 


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Step into the misty glens and ancient castles of Scotland with The Scottish Folklore Podcast. Your guide, Jenny Johnstone, has a voice made for storytelling, drawing you directly into the heart of each narrative she shares. This isn't just a recitation of old stories; it's an immersion into the landscapes and mindsets that created them. You'll hear tales of selkies shedding their skins on rocky shores, encounters with the otherworldly inhabitants of the sidhe, and the clever exploits of legendary heroes whose names echo through the Highlands. Each episode is a journey to a specific place, uncovering the local lore that has been whispered for generations. The podcast weaves together threads from history, culture, and pure imaginative fiction, revealing how these stories served as both entertainment and a way to explain the mysterious world. It’s about the feeling of a peat fire on a dark night and the sense that magic might just be lingering in the next valley over. By focusing on one tale at a time, Jenny gives each story the space to breathe, allowing listeners to fully appreciate the character, tension, and wonder embedded in these traditional narratives. For anyone curious about the roots of Scottish culture or simply in love with a well-told tale, this podcast offers a direct and captivating connection to a rich oral heritage.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 56

The Scottish Folklore Podcast
Podcast Episodes
24. The Unicorn: Scotland’s National Animal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:27
The majestic unicorn’s reputation has been somewhat sparkle-ified over the last few decades, but this hasn’t always been the case! There was once a time when the unicorn symbolised far more than a whimsical horse with a…
23. Green Ladies: Spooky & Sad Spectres [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:14
An incredible number of Scottish Castles are haunted by the ghost of a Green Lady. These spooky spectres of women dressed in green robes linger on long after death in the tower rooms, gloomy passageways, and great halls…
22. Pesky Pirates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:35
Pirates were a very real threat to the many communities that lived on the Scottish islands and coastlines, and so naturally there are plenty of folktales about them!In this episode Jenny tells three of these tales: The D…
21. The Two Sisters and the Curse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:17
This is a tale of broken promises, broken hearts, bitter curses, and a whole lot of harvesting. It comes from the south end of the Isle of Mull, and will have you questioning whether spilling the tea is worth it in the l…
20. The Goat that Told Lies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:52
Storytelling was at the heart of Traveller life, and this traditional Traveller tale was a favourite of Duncan Williamson, a masterful storyteller whose voice has kept countless old stories alive. And no doubt, once you…
19. Changelings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:39
Changelings are some of Scotland’s most unsettling folklore, for what could be more disturbing than an innocent bairn being stolen by a malicious fairy and a changeling, a wrinkled and wailing fairy baby, left in its pla…
18. Legends of the Cairngorms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:04
In this episode, Jenny explores the origin stories of three families that come from Braemar in the Cairngorms: the Wolf McDonalds, the McHardys, and the FarquharsonsThese tales, which are of both the Cairngorms and the w…
17. The Devil at Bennachie Burn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:48
This terrific Traveller tale follows a young lass named Peggy as a mysterious stranger tries to woo her by the banks of Bennachie Burn, and while Peggy is already betrothed to a long-legged cattle herd named Sammy Smith,…
16. The Devil's in the Landscape [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:58
The Devil can be found in every nook and cranny of Scotland and in this episode Jenny crawls into these nooks and squeezes through the crannies in search of the stories that ‘Ol Sandy has left behind. From The Devil’s Pu…
15. Rashiecoat: Scotland's Cinderella [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:32
In this episode Jenny tells the classic Scottish folk tale of Rashiecoat. This is Scotland’s version of Cinderella, and while there are similarities, it is no Disney fairytale! Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on Ins…