Christmas in Edinburgh 2009

Complete listings of Christmas festivities in Edinburgh (November and December)

Updated January 2010

Christmas starts early in Edinburgh with the first event (Christmas Tree Lights Switch-On) scheduled for Thursday, November 26th at 5.15pm. In the run-up to Christmas there are many events and celebrations to bring everyone in the family in the jolly seasonal spirit.

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As well as the main attractions in the winter festival's calendar -- such as the Switch-On of the Christmas Lights, Winter Wonderland, the German Christmas market and the Ferris Wheel -- there are many other festive events. Check out the full calendar of 2009 Christmas events in Edinburgh.

Christmas Carol concerts

There are several carol concerts taking place around Edinburgh around Christmas time. The best known ones are the Norwegian Carol concert in St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile on Thursday 26th November at 7pm and the Nativity Carol Concert in St Andrew Square on Sunday 29th November at 4pm.

In the 2009 Christmas calendar is also included a night of carols with the Gael Force choir at Edinburgh Castle's Great Hall as well as drama, historical re-enactment and also whisky tasting and ghost tours along the Royal Mile.

Edinburgh's Santa Weekend

Santa-related events from previous years have been enhanced to bring a truly magical family 2-day experience to Edinburgh on the 12th and 13th of December:

The Great Scottish Santa Run

One of the favourite Christmas events in Edinburgh is the Great Scottish Santa Run, the city's attempt to break the record of the largest gathering of Santas running for charity.

Each contestant in the Santa Run receive a complete Santa suit in which they must participate while kids taking part in Santa's Little Helpers Run receive a Christmas Hat to wear during the race. Everyone receives a medal at the finish while children get presents. The Great Scottish Santa Run takes place in a 1.5 miles circuit of West Princes Street Gardens on Sunday 13th December at 11am. Join the Santa Run online.

Santa at the Movies

The Filmhouse on Lothian Road has special screenings of the classic 'Nightmare Before Christmas' over the Santa weekend.

Santa Comes to Town

Santa's flying visit to Edinburgh is an event that kids won't want to miss. The event in Festival Square -- outside the Sheraton Hotel -- starts at 4.30pm on Sunday 11th December and is for the whole family to enjoy. It includes music, dancing and carol singing.

>> Back to Edinburgh Christmas guide index

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Origin of 'Edinburgh'

Tourists have problems with the name of Edinburgh. There are hundreds of ways people write it and the most common writings include 'edinburg', 'edinborough', 'edimburgh', 'edinbourgh', 'ediburgh', 'edinbugh', 'edinboro', 'edingburgh', 'edinbrugh', 'edimburg', 'edinburugh', 'edingurgh', 'edinbrough', etc.

According to the Scottish Place Names dictionary, the name Edinburgh means 'Fort of the Rock Face'. The 'edin' part comes from Scottish Gaelic and means 'rock face', while 'burgh' comes from Old English meaning stronghold.

Some more obscure (and quite funny) ways of writing Edinburgh include: edinburough, edingburg, edinbourg, edinburh, edinurgh, edenburg, edinbough, edinbourough, edinbrgh, edingborough, edenburgh, edinberg, edinborgh, edinborugh, edinburge, edinburhg, edingbourgh, etc.

Edinburgh is spelt Edimburgo in Spanish and Italian and Édimbourg in French.

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