Christmas was cancelled in Scotland for almost 400 years and people caught celebrating faced prison

Christmas Eve in a bid to tackle loneliness. The sweet campaign is asking the nation to create a 'wave of bells across the world' to spread festive cheer amid tough lockdown restrcitions.The idea came from Mary Beggs-Reid, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, to "end 2020 with a bit of magic, hope and togetherness" in her hometown.

Perth and Kinross will be closed from December 24, it has been announced. Culture Perth and Kinross is temporarily halting public admission to all its archives, libraries, museums and galleries from Christmas Eve until further notice. Two new ‘world-class’ schools to be built in Perth after Scottish Government funding go-ahead Perth Museum and Art Gallery  will be closed to the public slightly earlier, from Tuesday, December 22.

direct to your inbox For five days over the festive period, the coronavirus restrictions across the UK will change to allow people to meet others over Christmas. Many will be hoping to be able to visit friends and family outside of their local area during the festivities - especially as the festive season draws ever closer.

Craig David, Tinie Tempah and KSI as the trio joined our volunteers to prepare food for hungry children in celebration of he successful end of our Help the Hungry appeal. The three stars arrived at London Scottish House, a historic venue in Westminster that has been loaned to our appeal in partnership with charity With Compassion, to lend a hand to volunteers  including The Independent’s largest shareholder Evgeny Lebedev.

direct to your inboxChristmas is now just around the corner - and, once again, the public will have a whole new set of rules to get used to.Guidelines for what will be allowed over the festive period were thrown into confusion this week amid rising infection rates in parts of the country and warnings that the NHS could soon become overwhelmed.The escalating situation has led the government to hammer down on its advice during Christmas.Christmas bubbles will still be allowed - but the devolved

Get the stories that interest you straight to your inbox every day with our personalised newsletterA further 30 people in Scotland have died after contracting coronavirus.The death toll was revealed this afternoon as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urged caution over the relaxation of restrictions at Christmas.She is urging Scots to limit their Christmas bubbles to two households despite previously published rules stating that up to three would be possible.She said: "The safest way to spend

Ruby Murry's have done just that!Part of their new Christmas Special, the Indian food specialists, who are based at Tollcross, have created two festive spins on the traditional South Asian favourite.Featuring the green coloured Grinch inspired Brussels Sprouts pakora as well as chicken and stuffing bites, each £4 box contains 6 pieces of mixed festive Pakora.Mahmood Ahmed, who owns Ruby Murry's, told Glasgow Live: "We were keen to combine classic Christmas ingredients and flavours with a

Get the stories that interest you straight to your inbox every day with our personalised newsletterA Kilwinning father and son have recorded an ‘advent calendar of song’ to bring Christmas cheer to people across Scotland living in care homes.Ron and Ronald Swanson, who have been recording a variety of musical videos in their home and sharing on social media throughout the pandemic, are currently posting their advent calendar of song on Facebook every day will continue until Christmas Eve.But

The 2020 Clarence House Christmas card has officially arrived.In a photograph taken by a member of their staff, Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla posed together in the garden at Birkhall, the property on Queen Elizabeth II's Balmoral estate in Scotland where Charles and Camilla have largely been residing since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The picture shows the couple siting on a bench while surrounded by colorful flora.

direct to your inboxLeaders from all UK nations have agreed to keep the current plans to ease coronavirus restrictions over Christmas in place.From December 23 to 27, up to three households will be allowed to form a 'Christmas bubble' allowing them to mix indoors for what could be the first time in months.But calls have been mounting from scientific experts for the easing of lockdown measures to be scrapped or reduced, due to a rise in Covid-19 cases across the UK.During Prime Minister's

Boris Johnson to think again on the plans that would allow three households to mix between 23rd and 27th December and allow people to travel the length of the UK.

hospitalised for over a year after contracting a disease while travelling, has made it home in time for Christmas. When Mekala Osbourne was diagnosed with bronchial pneumonia in Vietnam, she only given a five per cent chance of survival.

Despite their good intentions, the Cambridges were heavily criticised for travelling to the country unnecessarily amid Scotland’s COVID-19 restrictions.

'scumbag' thief who robbed a Christmas present from the doorstep of a Scots home has been caught on camera.Shocking video footage shows the heartless grinch brazenly walk up to the front door of the residential home in Lasswade, Midlothian.The hooded criminal then snatches the box from the door and walks off out of the garden.But they have been caught on camera and now raging family members are wanting the person 'named and shamed'.Gary McCormack said the raid had happened at his mum's house and

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Kindness was on display across the generations in Renfrewshire this week as more than 3,000 Christmas cards made by the region's youngsters were handed out to care home residents and pensioners.After a tough year, children were able to deliver some festive cheer as they took part in I Am Me Scotland's Christmas card competition, which was this year aimed at bringing a smile to the people the coronavirus