With December only weeks away, the Scots Language Centre is putting the finishing touches to what should be its best ever Christmas and New Year programme. There are many old favourites – the youngsters from Whalsay will be back again with their poem telling how the robin got its red breast; Uncle Alister will help keep the party going with the words and tune to A Guid New Year tae ane an Aa and the famous karaokoe version of Auld Lang Syne will come in handy as the bells ring in the New Year. New features include a Scots Twelve Days of Christmas and some magical Christmas poems read by Sheena Blackhall that will help bring out the true spirit of the season.

Our programme starts as usual with a series of readings from the Scots New Testament to celebrate Advent. The first reading is on 29 November and is followed with a series of specially selected readings on the Sundays leading up to Christmas. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day visitors can hear Tom Fleming read the Christmas story in Scots, a real festive treat for anyone that hasn’t heard it before – as well as a good way to get some peace if the house is full of guests! Christmas readings will carry on to Twelfth Night on 6 January.

Why not pay the Centre a visit over the festive season and enjoy the best in Scots culture at a time of year that has always been special for Scots.

SLC’s Christmas programme is supported by the W L Lorimer Trust.