The Library Blog

Edinburgh Napier University Library blog. Filled with useful and fun blog articles on using the Library, the University, Edinburgh and many other fun topics.

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Trimester Two

Trimester Two

15/01/2026 / / 0 Comments

Trimester Two

It’s cold, dark, and the Christmas lights are down, which means one thing. January is here. And January means the start of the second trimester two and honestly, we can’t wait.  For some, it means returning from a break, while for others, it means embarking on their journey at Edinburgh Napier. You might be starting at an international college or a postgraduate program.  In this blog post, we’ll have you cover, having a look at the library essentials to help you start at Edinburgh Napier. Or have a refresher course.

Library Essential

Each campus has a library, so you don’t have to travel far from class. That library reflects the schools based at that campus, for example, what books are available at each library. For example, business books will be located at Craiglockhart, while computing, engineering, and built environments are housed at Merchiston. And of course, nursing at Sighthill.

Merchiston Library is perhaps more central and will be open 24/7 as a study space from the end of the month.

Finding information: reading lists, subject guides and subject librarians

Each course has a reading list. You will find these items through LibrarySearch. Please log in at the top right corner as this will allow you to access E-resources.  We also have subject guides and research guides that have been created by your subject librarian. These guides are designed to help you find information and develop research skills.

Each subject area has a subject librarian. You can contact your subject librarian for more information or arrange a 1: 1 appointment for extra guidance. Your subject librarian can help with finding resources and information about your course. And help build library skills. You can find your subject librarian on our web pages.

Library Services: Books, Databases and more

We have an extensive catalogue, and it is all available through library search. Here, you will have access to all our online resources and be able to locate where our physical resources are. You will also find access to journals and databases. You can borrow up to 30 physical items. Books are 7-day loans, but they renew automatically up to 4 months unless requested.  If you are looking for something we don’t have, we have an inter-library loan service where you can request books from other libraries. This is available through the LibrarySearch tab.

Library Services: Physical and Online

At the library, you will find plenty of study spaces: we have silent areas and areas for talking if you have group work. There are study rooms, PCs and Macs, with printers and scanners. Each library has a relaxation space with games, colouring sheets and comfy sofas to relax. We have a well-being collection that focuses on shelf help. If you can’t make it to campus, most of these resources are now available online.

Our trusty LibGuides are tailored to effectively assist you with finding relevant information in a specific subject area. They feature information and advice on searching for relevant print and e-resources such as books and journal articles, and recommend websites and databases. And information about how to get in touch with your subject librarian for additional assistance with accessing any further resources you may require. You can also find our A-Z list of databases we are subscribed to for all your research needs, with trial access included. Our detailed subject guides also cover every school within the university. We also have guides for conducting a literature review, critical thinking skills, reference management systems and referencing styles such as APA 7th.

 

Training and Events Calendar

Throughout the year, library staff run a variety of workshops and training sessions. These are to assist you in developing and enhancing your academic skillset. The sessions are easily bookable through Libcal for students and staff. Like our Libguide, the sessions and workshops cover research skills such as conducting literature reviews, utilising reference management systems such as Endnote and Mendeley. Library help for your specific subject area and database searching skills. These are only a few examples of the training sessions we offer. Do not worry if one of the sessions you wish to attend is fully booked as well – our library staff often run several of the same workshops throughout the year to provide students and staff with the most opportunity possible to attend!

Find out more about our training and events calendar in our Home – Edinburgh Napier University webpage. You can also access our full and up-to-date calendar through here as well.

Have a look at more study support 

library review

Library Review 2025

12/01/2026 / / 0 Comments

Library Review 2025

Before we get completely swept up with all 2026 has to offer, we thought we should pause to reflect on 2025. It had been a particularly busy year for the library, from physical space redesign to stock management; a lot has been going on. A reminder of how much we love being part of the Napier and student community.

There is no doubt that 2026 will be as dynamic, with new ideas and opportunities to reveal themselves. And we are eager to build on everything that we’ve learned in the past few years.

But before we continue, we want to take a moment to remind you how important your voice is to us. The library thrives on feedback, whether it’s a suggestion, a comment or a critique. Every service is designed with you in mind, and your feedback allows us to tailor our support to better meet your needs. So, as we close the chapter on 2025 and begin in 2026, we encourage your thoughts. The library is here and listening.

2025 Stats Wrap Up

This year’s most popular books truly reflected our readers’ interests:

  • Leadership in Organisations
  • Human Resource Management
  • International Business: competing in the global marketplace

Our collection continues to grow, with 117,664 physical books and 317,433 ebooks at the end of the year.

2025 Review

This year, the library has been busier than ever behind the scenes and at the front service. A significant focus has been on stock management; new titles being added to the collection, and existing stock reviewed and moved to improve engagement. Refreshing sections, reorganising displays to make it easier to discover and use.

Alongside this work, our subject librarians have been delivering workshops all year long. Workshops to help develop research skills and navigate library resources, for users making the most of both physical and digital collections.

As well as we have dedicated time to redesigning and improving our spaces, ensuring they remain welcoming, accessible and fit for purpose. All of this is taking place with our regular day-to-day service, from answering enquiries to lending, continuing to develop and enhance what the library offers.

Have a look at our 2025 posts

Welcome to the Edinburgh Napier University Library Blog 👋

12/01/2026 / / 0 Comments

We share friendly, practical posts from the Library team to help you study smarter, research with confidence, and make the most of the resources available to you at Edinburgh Napier University. We also have lots of fun, interesting posts on Scotland and on pretty much anything the Library staff find interesting!

Here you’ll find tips on things like finding good sources, referencing without the stress, using library spaces and digital tools, and navigating your way through assignments and deadlines. We also post updates about library services, new resources, and the occasional behind-the-scenes look at what’s going on in the Library.

Our aim is to keep things clear, helpful, and occasionally fun. Whether you’re new to university, deep into your dissertation, or just looking for a quick answer, this blog is here to support you throughout your studies.

New posts appear regularly during the academic year, so check back often — or dip in whenever you need a bit of library help.

behind the scenes

Behind the scenes in the Library

06/01/2026 / / 0 Comments

Behind the scenes in the Library

Welcome back to the library. As we begin a new trimester, we thought to take behind the scence.

You may notice staff in the library performing some of our tasks and wonder what on earth we are doing. Here’s a summary of what we are up to.

Checking Lapsafe:

This is done once a day at each site. Using our library management system, we generate a list of the site’s laptops, on loan or available for loan, and check that this corresponds to each cabinet. We also check that all available laptops have a charger in the cabinet and replace any missing ones.

Stock scanning:

All sites check their book stock each semester. This is done using a tablet and a scanning wand. A list is generated from our library management system. This is then input into a software to command the wand what it must search for. We swipe the wand over our chosen area, and we can see any discrepancies, such as missing or misplaced books, on the tablet screen. Two scans are carried out – one to identify books missing from the stock and the other to find books which have been shelved in the wrong area. We will then mark missing items on our library management system and move misshelved books to the correct shelf area.

Environmental check:

In the mornings, you may see us walking around the library, looking around all areas. We’re doing an environment check to make sure that the library environment is up and running for the day and safe for users. We check that lights are switched on and working, library catalogues are running, and look out for any spills or breakages which we can then report to the property and facilities team. We will also check that all signage is relevant and remove any out-of-date signs.

Stock weeding:

If you see us with a book trolley and a printed list, the chances are we are weeding the book stock. Our subject librarians produce lists of stock which is no longer relevant (new editions available, course no longer taught, out-of-date information). These books must then be removed from the shelves and withdrawn from stock using our library management system. Withdrawn books are then packed up in boxes and sent to Better World Books. This company aims to keep books out of landfills, thus cutting waste. They sell books online to raise funds for non-profit literacy organisations.

Click and Collect shelf check:

This is done at all sites each day to make sure that all requested books are still on the shelf awaiting collection. For any missing books, we will assume that they have been collected but have not been issued at the self-service kiosk. We then contact users to let them know that the book has been added to their record and inform them of the date the book is due for return.

Displays:

Throughout the year you may notice us creating displays in the library to promote library and awareness events. At the beginning of the academic year, we focus on getting started at university.  With a display of relevant books and freebies such as book bags and pens. Sometimes we ask you to get involved, too. For exampl,e our Love Your Library event runs in February, and you can post notes telling us everything you love about the library. We have many displays throughout the year, such as Pride, Black History Month,and  Scottish Book Week. And we also promote bookable library online training sessions on our whiteboards.

There are many more tasks which we carry out in the library and in our offices. If you see us around and have any questions, please ask, and we will be happy to assist!

By Vivienne Hamilton

Curious for more library behind the scenes, we have some posts for you

Note with word resolutions on it nailed to a door for article: How to achieve your New Year's Resolution

How to achieve your New Year’s Resolution

03/01/2026 / / 0 Comments

How to achieve your New Year’s Resolution

Why is it so hard? And what science can do to help.

It’s that time of year again when many of us make resolutions to change. Some of us set long-term goals such as losing weight, exercising more or spending time on productive hobbies. Others go for shorter-term ideas, such as following Veganuary or perhaps Dry January. A chance for us to “try out” lifestyles which are better for us.

Whatever your plans, it’s always good to try and live an improved, healthier, more considered life.

Saying that though, it’s incredibly hard to stick to these goals. The question is why? We all know what we should be doing. We all know that salad is better than a takeaway. That we should exercise more and turn off Netflix to read a good book. Somehow, that knowledge alone doesn’t translate into action.

Although there is no simple answer to what motivates us, that hasn’t stopped science from finding ways to help us. So read on for some explanations of how our minds work and what we can do to work around them and achieve our desired goals.

Small Changes

One of the easiest ideas to follow is to use small changes that lead to bigger changes. Many writers promote this idea, and there is some good evidence to back it up. You can look up studies such as the “small changes/healthy Habits” study available through LibrarySearch. Also, there are plenty of books based on the idea like James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” (Find it at Merchiston Library).

For many of us, big changes overwhelm us and send us running for the ice cream. No one wants to sit and eat only vegetables and drink water, however, drinking one glass of water before each meal is a small, simple change that most of us can do and not feel pressured over. Skipping that extra sugar in your coffee can quickly become the norm, and taking the stairs rather than the lift can create real changes in your body. These small changes over time can help make big differences. Furthermore, doing these tiny changes keeps our brains happy, allowing us to embrace the new habit and make it a part of our routine.

Gamification

A bit of a buzzword in the last few years, this term can be applied to changing our habits by sparking the serotonin in our brains and turning something like exercise into fun. Why not use an app on your phone to turn a boring run into a race for your life away from zombie hordes? Yes, there’s an app for that! Many smartwatches and fitness trackers let you compete with friends to win virtual trophies. Or go old-fashioned and simply join a sports team rather than just trudging to the gym. The camaraderie and the competition can help inspire you to keep to new fitness goals. You can check out some of the current research in papers like this article, analysing  “Gamification for health and wellbeing: A systematic review of the literature“. Feel like going in-depth? Why not read up on conference proceedings like this conference paper,” Does Gamification Work? — A Literature Review of Empirical Studies on Gamification. Alternatively, try reading this inspiring and engaging online book “Gamify: how gamification motivates people to do extraordinary things”, available online through the Library.

Temptation Bundling

This is a fun term that basically means doing something fun at the same time as doing something you need to, but really don’t want to. It’s based on the theory known as Premack’s Principle. It is a relativity theory of reinforcement, which “states that more probable behaviours will reinforce less probable behaviours” Source. There is a wealth of articles on this in Librarysearch if you want a deep dive into its applications.

Here are some examples: Only watch that trashy tv show you love when you do the ironing, have difficult meetings at your favourite restaurant or listen to your favourite music whilst looking through mundane work tasks.

Present me/Future me

The idea is that we exist only as our “present self,” and because the “future self” isn’t here yet, we tend to discount or neglect them. Sadly, poor future me always pays the price for present me’s decisions. So to “future-proof” yourself, you need to make it easier for “present you” to make good choices. No snacks in the cupboards, have those workout clothes laid out first thing in the morning, or in your bag for work. Remove the social apps from your phone and prep healthy meals in advance. Make it easier to make good choices in the moment.

In conclusion

If you want to know how to achieve your New Year’s Resolutions, the trick is to make it easy and fun. Small changes, preparation and finding ways to make less enjoyable activities more fun is the key.

By Juliet Kinsey

Read more related articles from our blog, such as our post on meditation, or check out our Wellness Collection guides and online relaxation space.

Image Source

New year military tattoo at the castle: Scottish New Year Traditions

Scottish New Year Traditions

31/12/2025 / / 1 Comment

Scottish New Year Traditions

An old Scottish New Year tradition was First Footing – all you had to do was grab a lump of coal and a bottle of whisky and visit your neighbour to “see in” the New Year. This tradition is thought to date back to the Viking times and is quite quaint and sedate, but in modern times some of our New Year traditions have become a little bit crazy…..

Stonehaven Fireballs

This spectacular display takes place in the town of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. Roughly 40 people take part and at the stroke of midnight, the fireballs are lit and are whirled around by those brave enough to take part in the procession along the High Street. The balls are made from wood and fabric soaked in paraffin and then enclosed in wire mesh. The procession takes around half an hour and the balls are hurled into the sea at the end. The origins of the tradition are unclear, but it has now become a popular tourist attraction. If you can’t attend the procession, there has been a webcam allowing remote viewing in the past which will hopefully be running again this year and the link is here. You can check out previous processions online by clicking here.

The Ba’, Kirkwall, Orkney

The game begins at 1pm on New Year’s Day when the Ba’ is thrown up from the Mercat Cross outside St. Magnus Cathedral. Two teams, Uppies and Doonies try to get the Ba’- a leather ball filled with cork handmade by local craftsmen- to their respective home goals. For Uppies it’s at the far end of the main street opposite the catholic church, and for Doonies it’s Kirkwall Harbour. If the Ba’ “gaas doon” then the players are expected to jump into the harbour. It’s a contest of scrums, pushing, shoving, fast sprints and sneaky smuggles. Where your allegiance lies used to depend on where you were born with Uppies being born south of the cathedral and Doonies born north of it. Now with many women being sent to Aberdeen to give birth, most men play on the side their father or grandfather played on. The game mostly takes place on the town’s main streets with businesses and homes boarding up their properties to prevent damage.

Rules of The Game

There are no rules, and a game can last for many hours with little movement of the scrum. Only when a team member manages to get the Ba’ to the outer players can a fast break or smuggle (up a player’s jumper) take place. It is then chaotic with those in possession of the Ba’ trying to get as close as possible to their goal whilst throwing the opposition off the trail by using the winding lanes in Kirkwall’s streets.

Once the winning team has reached their goal, the Ba’ is presented to a member of the team-usually someone who has participated for many years. It’s a lot easier to watch than take part in-click here to watch the Ba’ from a previous year.

The Loony Dook, South Queensferry

Held on New Year’s Day, The Loony Dook is a charity event requiring the participants to dip into the freezing cold waters of the Firth of Forth. The name comes from two Scots words, loony (a crazy person) and dook (to bathe or take a dip).

The first Loony Dook took place in 1986 when some friends suggested it would be a good hangover cure. The following year it became a charity event with proceeds going to local charities such as RNLI Queensferry. Over the years the event grew to include a fancy dress parade and became so large it had to become an organized event. Each year thousands of onlookers come to watch participants who are greeted by pipers and offered hot porridge before taking the plunge.

The event has caught on in other Scottish seaside towns along the Firth such as North Berwick, Kirkcaldy and St. Andrews so if you can’t make it to South Queensferry, then you may be able to catch the action at a different venue. If you prefer to stay warm and dry at New Year then click here to view a previous Loony Dook from the comfort of your home!

By Vivienne Hamilton

Find amazing resources on Scotland in LibrarySearch.napier.ac.uk

Read more about Scottish Traditions with this post on Burns Night.

Boxing Day

Boxing Day Facts

26/12/2025 / / 0 Comments

Boxing Day Facts

Happy Boxing Day, Readers!

Boxing Day, celebrated on the 26th of December, has become a natural extension of Christmas for many people. It’s often a chill day involving eating leftovers, watching telly (usually a day filled with football) or taking advantage of all the Boxing Day sales. It is a public holiday in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in other countries.

Interestingly, because of this, if Boxing Day falls on a weekend, then the public holiday is moved on Monday and if it falls on a Sunday, then the public holiday if on a Tuesday, making sure that people get their day off.

But have you ever wondered about the day itself?

For example, the origins of Boxing Day have been widely debated,d and the history might date further back than people might realise.

The Origins of Boxing Day Facts

Boxing Day is a public bank holiday in the day, which was officially recognised during the Victorian Era. However, some historians have pointed out that it might go further back as far as medieval times.

One popular theory of Boxing Day origins is that the name comes from Church traditions. After Christmas Day, the Church would open donation boxes, which were also known as Alms boxes and distribute them to low-income families.

On the same line, during the Industrial Revolution, employers often gave their workers gifts or money in “Christmas Boxes” on December 26th as a thank you. This was also found in wealthier households; servants were required to work Christmas Day while their employers celebrated. As compensation, servants were given Boxing Day off to be with their families and were presented gifts on December 26th (Mental Floss.com)

Boxing Day as a Public Holiday: Boxing Day became an official public holiday in 1871 with the passage of the Bank Holiday Act. This legislation established four bank holidays throughout the year, with Boxing Day being one. Since then, it has been recognised as a day of national day of rest and celebration.

Boxing Day Shopping Traditions

Over time, Boxing Day evolved into one of the busiest shopping days in the UK, due to the post-Christmas sales. Shoppers would queue for ages to get the best bargains or scroll for hours online. However, this has largely become less significant due to Black Friday and Cyber Monday in recent years.

Boxing Day Around the world

 

Boxing Day coincides with St. Stephen’s Day, which is celebrated in many countries across Europe. Although traditions may differ from those of Boxing Day, December 26th is clearly a day to mark on your calendar.

The

New Year is coming, read about some facts and traditions in our blog posts

Winter Solstice Around the World: Celebrating the Longest Night

Winter Solstice: How Different Cultures Celebrate the Longest Night

21/12/2025 / / 0 Comments

Winter Solstice: How Different Cultures Celebrate the Longest Night

The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. It usually falls around December 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 21 in the Southern Hemisphere. For thousands of years, people have celebrated this turning point when darkness fades and light returns. Across the world, different cultures honour the Solstice with unique traditions. Let’s explore how people celebrate it from Scandinavia to Scotland, China, and beyond.

 Northern Europe

In Northern Europe, the ancient Norse celebrated Yule, a festival of fire, feasting, and light. During the long, cold winters, the return of the Sun was cause for rejoicing. Families lit massive Yule logs that burned for twelve days. The fire symbolised warmth and the promise of brighter days. Today, Scandinavians still honour these customs. Homes glow with candles and evergreen wreaths. In Norway, people share rice pudding and leave a bowl for the household spirit, the nisse. In Sweden, Saint Lucia’s Day on December 13 celebrates light. Girls wear crowns of candles, leading processions that brighten the darkest nights.

China

In China, the Dongzhi Festival marks the arrival of winter. The name means “winter’s extreme.” It dates back more than 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty. Families gather to share tangyuan, sweet rice balls served in warm soup. The round shape stands for reunion and harmony. In northern China, people eat dumplings to stay warm. Dongzhi celebrates balance and renewal. It reflects the belief in yin and yang, the idea that darkness and light shift in eternal rhythm. After the longest night, light begins to return.

Iran

In Iran, people celebrate Shab-e Yalda, or “Night of Birth.” It honours the victory of light over darkness and the birth of Mithra, the ancient Sun god. Families stay up late to welcome the dawn. They eat red fruits like pomegranates and watermelons, symbols of life and warmth. Many read poetry by Hafez, sharing verses and stories through the night. Yalda reminds Iranians that even in deep darkness, light always returns. It’s a night of warmth, laughter, and hope.

United States

Among the Hopi and Zuni in the southwestern United States, the Winter Solstice is called Soyal. It’s a sacred time to welcome the Sun’s return. People clean their homes, make offerings, and perform dances and ceremonies. The Hopi create kachina dolls that represent spirits that bring blessings and rain. Soyal strengthens the bond between people, nature, and the spiritual world. It’s a moment to express gratitude and prepare for renewal.

Ireland

In Ireland, the ancient tomb of Newgrange reveals humanity’s long fascination with the Solstice. Built more than 5,000 years ago, it predates the pyramids. On the morning of the Solstice, sunlight enters a small roof box above the doorway. It lights up the stone chamber inside for just a few minutes. This moment symbolised rebirth and hope for ancient people. Today, thousands watch it in person or online. The Solstice sunrise at Newgrange still stirs awe and connection with the past.

England

In southern England, Stonehenge draws visitors from around the world. Its massive stones align with the rising and setting Sun during the Solstices. Every year, crowds gather to watch the Winter Solstice sunrise. Druids, pagans, and travellers celebrate with music, dance, and cheer. It’s a powerful symbol of the link between humanity and nature. Stonehenge reminds us that the cycles of the Earth continue, no matter how modern life becomes.

Japan

In Japan, the Winter Solstice is called Toji. It’s not an official holiday, but people observe customs for good health and luck. The most famous is the yuzu bath, where people soak in hot water with floating citrus fruits. The bath wards off colds and refreshes the spirit. Many also eat pumpkin soup or noodles to build strength for winter. Toji is a quiet celebration. It’s about caring for the body, welcoming the light, and preparing for renewal.

Peru

In Peru, the Winter Solstice falls in June, since it’s in the Southern Hemisphere. The Inti Raymi festival honours Inti, the Incan Sun god. In ancient Cusco, people offered food, dance, and prayers to ensure the Sun’s return. The Spanish later banned the festival, but it was revived in the 20th century. Now thousands gather at Sacsayhuamán, near Cusco, to witness the grand reenactments. It’s a celebration of faith, heritage, and the power of the Sun.

Scotland

In Scotland, the Winter Solstice has ancient roots and modern celebrations. The country’s northern latitude means long, dark winters—perfect for celebrating the return of the light. In Orkney, the Maeshowe chambered cairn, built over 5,000 years ago, aligns with the Solstice sunset. For a few days each December, the setting Sun shines straight into the stone passage, lighting up the inner chamber. It’s one of Europe’s most stunning Solstice sites. Modern Scots also celebrate in lively ways. Edinburgh’s Winter Solstice fire festivals, such as the Up Helly Aa torchlight processions in Shetland, echo the old Norse Yule spirit. Fire dancers, drummers, and costumed marchers fill the streets, symbolising the burning away of darkness. Whether ancient or modern, Scotland’s Solstice celebrations share one theme—the triumph of light and community over winter’s long shadow.

Across continents, people celebrate the Winter Solstice in their own way. Fire, food, poetry, or dance—every tradition carries the same message: darkness never lasts. The Solstice reminds us of the Sun’s promise. It marks a new beginning, a return of warmth, and the strength of the human spirit. No matter where we live, we all look to the same light—and every year, it rises again.

By Juliet Kinsey

Read more about Festive traditions here on the blog with our post on Spanish Christmas Traditions

Check out more information on the Winter Solstice on Librarysearch.napier.ac.uk

Christmas in historical Edinburgh

Historical Christmas

18/12/2025 / / 0 Comments

Historical Christmas

We’re just about ready to close up for the Christmas holidays and it’s all we’ve been able to talk about here at the library. Besides thinking about our Christmas shopping, having to meet up with the family. And getting ready for Christmas dinner. We’ve also gave a bit of thought about how Christmas became what it is today, and the different ways that it has changed over the century. So we decided to have a quick look into it today.

Midwinter and the period stretching from the winter solstice (which usually falls around the week of the 21st) up to early January has long been a time of celebration and festivities across many cultures and faiths. Archaeological evidence indicates such celebrations were being held as far back as the Neolithic period (almost nine thousand years ago!) with the speculation being that ancient sites such as Stonehenge served as places to conduct such ceremonies and festivities.

Many religions have used this time as a period to commemorate the births of their respective deities as well, with the ancient Egyptians using this time to mark the birth of their god Horus.
In addition to religious connotations, holding festive celebrations during the period also served a practical purpose of lifting community spirits during the darkest and coldest time of year.

Roman Christmas

It is in such early winter celebrations that we can find the origins of Christmas, with early Christians in the Roman Empire likely drawing inspiration from the Roman festival of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, (held on the 25th of December), and the Roman holiday of Saturnalia, which was a gift giving holiday in the week up to the 25th of December in honour of Saturn.
At the same time, Christians living to the East of Rome primarily celebrated Jesus on the 6th of January, on an occasion known as Theophany, or The Epiphany, believed to be the date the three wise men visited Jesus.

Medieval Christmas

By the medieval period, the Catholic Church decided to unite both traditions by officially declaring the period of the 25th of December to the 6th of January as being Christmastide, or the Twelve Days of Christmas, with the weeks leading up to Christmas being marked as the Advent period. Which would serve as a time of preparation and anticipation for the upcoming Christmas celebrations.

Early Christmas celebrations would usually involve traditions associated with local pre-Christian winter festivals, especially the festival of Yuletide observed by the Norse and Anglo-Saxon people. To the point that today the name Yuletide is considered synonymous with Christmastime. It’s from these Yuletide celebrations that we get the Christmas traditions of decorating homes using seasonal fruits and plants and Yule log. It is even speculated that Christmas Carols have their roots in Yuletide singing, where it was custom to go door-to-door singing in exchange for gifts and alcohol. Although Yuletide singing is recorded as being a much rowdier affair than Christmas carolling usually is!

Over the centuries Christmas began to grow in popularity as many kings and emperors of Europe chose to be crowned on Christmas Day, and it soon became custom for monarchs and nobles to host lavish Christmas feasts every year.
It was from these Christmas feasts that we start to see some of the modern Christmas cuisine start to emerge, with King Henry VIII beginning the tradition of serving turkey for Christmas dinner shortly after the bird was imported to Britain, as a way of showing off his great wealth. Expensive birds soon became a staple of royal Christmas dinners, although many normal households would struggle to afford such food until many centuries later, instead usually settling for more affordable meat like duck.

As part of these feasts, it was expected that the host would hire a troupe of actors (called Mummers) to stage a play for the entertainment of guests. These plays would usually involve crude humour and stage fights, and would over time evolve into Christmas pantomimes that are still popular in Britain today. Of course, these wouldn’t be the only plays associated with Christmas time. The staging of a Christmas Nativity play depicting the birth of Jesus is a tradition that goes back even further to around the early 1200s when Saint Francis of Assisi oversaw the staging of such a play in Italy, with the practice spreading overtime to other Christian countries.

Back in the day, Christmas celebrations in Britain put a great emphasis on partying and “misrule”, with a member of the party being appointed the Lord of Misrule (called the Abbot of Unreason up here in Scotland) who was responsible for overseeing the party and encouraging drunkenness and unruly behaviour. This tradition was controversial at the time as it was seen as sinful and was outlawed in Britain by the 17th century. The tradition would be forgotten overtime as Christmas changed to become more centred on family and religious observance. This push to change Christmas from a time of drunken revelry to a time of faith and family is also part of the reason why we give each other gifts on Christmas.

1800s Christmas

Because early Christmas celebrations were more focused on partying and feasting, there wasn’t much time spent on the gift giving that we associated Christmas with today. Instead, gift giving was typically split between two different days. On the 6th of December presents would be given to the children in a community in celebration of St Nicholas Day, with adults being given gifts at New Years. The shift of gift-giving to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day came partially due to the Protestant reformation resulting in much of Europe stopping observing most Saint days, and partially the result of the aforementioned push to change Christmas from a period of drunken celebration to a more wholesome time.

One of the few countries in Europe that continued to give gifts on St Nicholas Day was the Netherlands, who brought the tradition over to North America along with stories of Sinterklass, which was what they called St Nick. This would become our idea of Santa Claus by the 19th century, with American poems such as Old Santeclaus with Much Delight and A Visit from St. Nicholas (both published in the 1820s) creating a lot of the popular imagery around Santa and cemented the night before Christmas as being the day he would arrive to give presents to children. The popularity of both of these poems is what helped normalise Christmas Eve or Christmas Day as being the days gifts would be given and opened.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert Influence

The 1800s would see the popularisation of many other common Christmas traditions still in use today. With Christmas trees first seeing use in Britain in the early 1800s thanks to Queen Charlotte, who brought the tradition over from her home country of Germany. The royal family would continue to decorate a Christmas tree every year and the 1840s saw the publication of an illustration ofQueen Victoria and Prince Albert decorating a tree with their children. This illustration was very popular and is believed to have helped popular Christmas trees in Britain, spurred on by the industrialisation of Britain allowing for decorations to be made quickly and cheaply in large numbers. This same decade also saw the beginnings of the first Christmas cards
The Victorian era also saw the establishment of Christmas as a holiday period from work and education, with workers being granted Christmas and Boxing Day off work, thanks to industrialisation allowing for more time off work and the labour movement of the era pushing for greater reform in work laws.

That took some explaining, but from all this you can see how Christmas evolved into what we have today. It really makes you wonder what new Christmas traditions we might see emerge over the coming years (we’ve already had the Elf on a Shelf start to gain popularity over the past twenty years) and what it will look like centuries from now!

By Matthew Ferrie

We have lots of festive posts to keep you entertain this Christmas.

 

 

 

 

Image for blog post The 12 Days of Festive Library Resources

The 12 Days of Festive Library Resources Part Two

16/12/2025 / / 0 Comments

The 12 Days of Festive Library Resources Part Two

Part Two

Here is part two of our Festive Library Resources List.

Day 7: Libguides

Libguides are subject guides created by our Librarians. They help you to find the right information for your area of study and provide you with links to appropriate resources. You can find them here: libguides.napier.ac.uk

You can read a more in-depth guide from our Library blog here.

Day 8: Books and Journals 

Have you wondered how many books are on our shelves? How many Ebooks on our digital shelves? Well wonder no more. We have 105,301 books in stock. And over 273,000 Ebooks. And they are all available on LibrarySearch for you to enjoy.

Day 9: Relaxation Zones

We have Relaxation Zones at all our campus Libraries, with games, comfy seating and relaxing activities for you to enjoy. Also, check out our Virtual Relaxation Zone on the Library Blog with links to meditation, videos and online relaxing activities. Read more about our relaxation zones here.

Day 10: Repository

An Open Access showcase for our research outputs. We have journal articles, conference papers and theses, data sets, programs, images, scores, music, and exhibition catalogues in digital format. The Repository helps us

  • Increase the impact of the University’s research by making it more visible thus improving the citation rate
  • Encourage collaboration and raise academic profiles
  • Meet with funder and REF requirements

You can all that the Repository has to offer here.

Day 11: Heritage collections

Edinburgh Napier University has a number of outstanding collections which explore, explain and engage with the cultural history of Edinburgh and beyond.

Our Heritage collections:

  • War Poets Collection

  • Mehew Robert Louis Stevenson

  • Jim Haynes

  • Edward Clark Collection

For information about any of our special collections and archives, please email heritage@napier.ac.uk

Day 12: The Librarians…we are here 

We have made it to the final day. And on the 12th day of festive resources gave to me: Librarians. The most valuable resource the Library offers is its Library Staff. Remember, we are here to help. You can contact us via the help desks, email library@napier.ac.uk or phone 0131 455 3500. We may be closed over the festive break but we have out-of-hours service if you need assistance.

Enjoy your holidays and we look forward to seeing everyone back in January.

By Maya Green and Juliet Kinsey

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