Christmas Fest
Edinburgh is the best City in Britain for a Christmas break. Scotland's capital is stunningly beautiful for the rest of the year
too but at Christmas, it becomes a truly magical experience, the heart of Edinburgh's Winter Festival
and here's why. Christmas shopping, winter family fun and lots of other activities take place in a sparking Edinburgh City centre.
Hardly any other City in the World has the ability to bring excellent shopping and the magic of Christmas so close together and at the
centre of Edinburgh's capital as well. The two Festivals generate 35.9 million pounds for the City
with three hundred and twenty five thousand people visiting the Christmas Festival and 143,000 people visiting the Hogmanay celebrations.
Events and Festive Christmas celebrations take place throughout the City from Princes Street itself with the gardens
the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle in the Old Town to George Street in the New Town.
The Winter Festival in Edinburgh lasts for more than a month starting with the Christmas lights switch on in late November
followed by Christmas time in fairy tale like Edinburgh.
and finally finishing up with the Hogmanay four day long celebrations.
There's no doubt about it that the best thing about Christmas in Edinburgh is the Winter Wonderland, a mix of it's fairground rides,
Ferris wheel, outdoor icerink, hot food stands, Christmas fair and a traditional German Christmas market
which are all open to visitors for nearly four weeks.
It was five years ago in 1999 when Edinburgh launched it's first Capital Christmas, a Winter Festival attraction for both residents
and visitors to enjoy. Since then the Festival has grown into a fabulous Winter Wonderland of festive entertainment
with the City Centre dazzling in 2006. For an exciliting view of the Christmas lights, take a spin on the Edinburgh wheel.
It's majestic 33 metre span towers over Princes Street and the gardens, giving you the best possible view of the City.
this season. Edinburgh's Winter Wonderland transforms East Princes Street Gardens into an exciting world of ice and snow
providing fun, laughter and excitement for both adults and children.
Christmas festive music
Before the Christmas Festival begins, there is St Andrews Day which is celebrated annually on the 30th November.
a day when Scots around the world can rejoice in their culture and heritage.
one of these events includes the St Andrews day parade which starts on Market Street
the march continues across Waverly Bridge and then turns left onto Princes Street which then leads to Lothian Road and
Festival Square.
St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland and St Andrews day is celebrated by Scots around the world on this day.
The flag of Scotland is a cross of St Andrews and this is widely displayed as a symbol of national identity.
The order of St Andrew or the most ancient order of the thistle is an order of Knighthood which is restricted to the King or Queen
and sixteen others. It was established by James 7th of Scotland in 1687.
Next year, plans have been unveiled for the biggest celebration of St Andrews Day.
These celebrations involving thousands of people will be held in the centre of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Stirling.
Pipe Band music, Scotland the Brave
Hogmanay is a great night to celebrate as families and friends gather together to welcome in the New Year
over four days from the 29th December to the 1st of January. They'll be an exciting carnival party atmosphere,
with outdoor entertainment, concerts, street theatre, music, dancing, sporting events and fireworks.
The temperature might be a little cool but you'll soon heat up by watching a parade of the Pipes and Drums
and joining in the world's largest ceilidh dance.
Celtic Folk Ceilidh Music
Another event that happens in the four day Festival is the Night Afore International, this year in 2006 there will be a German theme
with one of Germany's leading street theatre companies, Theatre Titanic.
performing in the Firebirds show for the first time in the UK. This will also include a pyrotechnic chariot race along George Street.
There will also be traditional German food and drink on offer and the Assembly Rooms in George Street will become a decadent
Berlin style Nightclub for the evening.
Brass Music German Style
Before the night of Hogmanay itself, people can enjoy a party atmosphere every night around the City.
The Torchlight Procession on the 29th December which is a magical parade in aid of charity brings in hundreds of people
carrying flaming torches who walk down the High Street from St Giles Cathedral and proceed to the top of Calton Hill.
Here, amongst music and fireworks, a giant bonfire will symbolise the burning of a Viking longboat.
This years Edinburgh Torchlight parade marks the start of the City's New Year celebrations. Despite predictions of rain and wind,
the early evening was fine with temperatures about 10 degrees celsius. The parade began at 6.30pm at Parliament Square
on the Royal Mile and then it came down Bank Street behind the floodlit Bank of Scotland head office.
It was led by Vikings from Lerwick's Up Hell a celebrations with their long ship to be set alight with the bonfire at the top
of Calton Hill.
Torches were handed out by Lord provost, Lesley Hynds and Author, Irvine Welsh.
which were four pounds each for early bookings and five pounds on the night.
There were an estimated 15,000 participants and spectators.
Part of the parade can just be seen on extreme right as it begins it's journey down the Mound.
At the top of the hill there was a bonfire and the burning of a Willow Bear. The event ended with a spectacular fireworks
display.
A popular event is the One O'clock gun run when hundreds of people gather at the castle in the late morning of January 1st,
ready to set off on a jog down the Royal Mile to the palace of Holyrood Park.
You're doing really well, sorry about the rain...
On New Years day, the Edinburgh bicycle triathlon is a race for everyone. A fun race for those who have never done a triathlon
before as about a third of participants are first timers
and a competitive test of Winter fitness for experienced athletes in one of the most beautiful urban settings.
Uptempo guitar music wih drums
Edinburgh's Hogmanay, the New Year's eve celebration deeply embedded in Scottish culture will once again take place
over the four exciting, emotionally charged days every year.
Xmas music playing in background
Produced by Alan Taylor
Edinburgh Winter Festival Events - Hogmanay and New Year Celebrations - Torchlight Procession Event