Why would you consider Orkney a good place to be in the depths of a northern winter?  Simple.  There are many reasons why Orkney is a great place to visit at the back end or beginning of the year with unique events and a chance to be part of the community.

December: in the lead up to Christmas there are concerts, art exhibitions and talks and lectures to attend and of course the pantomime season gets into full swing.  Oh yes it  does!  During the first week of December a huge Christmas tree gifted by Orkney’s twin region, Hordaland in Norway is lit at a ceremony marking the festival of Scandinavian St Lucy outside St Magnus Cathedral.  Local schoolchildren and dignitaries parade with Norwegian guests while Kirkwall City Pipe Band plays.  Inside the cathedral a tree from the forest near Grimstad in Norway is also lit.  This remembers that Grimstad was the childhood home of St Magnus and his nephew St Rognvald, who built the cathedral in Kirkwall to honour his martyred uncle.  More Christmas trees are lit throughout Orkney’s parishes and isles throughout the week.  On midwinter’s day on December 21 (and for three weeks either side) you can visit the Neolithic tomb of Maeshowe in Stenness and watch for the magical moment when light travels down the tomb’s passageway to illuminate a stone inside.  You can watch this on a webcam but nothing beats the near mystical experience of the real thing.  On Christmas Day the unique Ba’ game, a mass game of football is played through the streets of Kirkwall involving hundreds of players.  There is fierce competition between the Uppies and Doonies who aim to get the ba’ to their goals – the Doonies in the harbour and the Uppies opposite the Catholic church.  The Boys’ Ba’ and the Men’s Ba’ are also played on New Year’s Day.

On Hogmanay folk gather on the Kirk Green in Kirkwall for the bells at midnight or in Stromness at the Pierhead for the ships’ whistles to sound.  January and February are the quietest months in Orkney – a chance to enjoy the peace or gather for fireside storytelling and catch up with family and friends.