Scotland's ancient Easter traditions that go back hundreds of years (2025)

From pace-eggin' to eating lamb, you can take part in some of them yourself.

Easter is almost here, and people all over Scotland will be looking ahead to the holiday weekend. With schools across the country also on a spring break, there is plenty of opportunity to take part in some Easter fun.

Also known as Resurrection Sunday, Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. As told in the New Testament, this occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans.

While many observe Easter as a religious holiday, a lot of Scots instead see it as a cultural one. There are a number of Easter and spring traditions in Scotland dating back centuries that are still observed to this day.

The Daily Record has rounded up some of the most iconic traditions that take place throughout the Easter season. From egg rolling to eating lamb, you can even take part in some of them yourself.

Read on for some of Scotland's historic Easter traditions.

Bonfires

These days, most Scots would probably associate bonfires more with November than April. However the burning of bonfires on the Saturday in between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is a centuries-old Scottish tradition.

As part of the tradition, an effigy of Judas would usually be set on fire. Over the years, however, the lighting on bonfires on Easter became less popular as more and more Scots celebrated Bonfire Night.

Lamb

There are many foods that are associated with Easter, from chocolate to hard-boiled eggs. In Scotland, many people eat roast lamb for the occasion. There are multiple reasons why Scots eat lamb over Easter.

The most obvious is that Jesus is referred to as 'Lamb of God' in the Bible, representing purity and goodness—with the consumption of lamb acting as a metaphor for Jesus' sacrifice.

Meanwhile, the sacrificing of lambs is also an ancient ritual. The eating of roast lamb is thought to date back even further than the origins of Christianity.

Egg rolling

Egg rolling is a traditional game played with boiled eggs at Easter across Scotland and beyond. If you have never heard of the practice before, it is pretty much self-explanatory.

Usually taking place over the Easter weekend, it sees participants roll eggs down grassy hills. Also referred to as 'pace-eggin', it is meant to symbolise the stone being rolled back from Jesus' tomb.

To make the activity more fun, many people choose to paint or decorate their eggs before rolling them down a slope. Here in Scotland, we have plenty of hills, so there is no shortage of places to take part in egg rolling.

Hot cross buns

All over Scotland and the UK, people will be enjoying hot cross buns this Easter. Traditionally, these spiced buns are eaten on Good Friday.

As you may have guessed from their name, this is done to symbolise the crucifixion of Jesus. In Scotland, hot cross buns are usually made with a mix of spices and dried fruit and enjoyed with a hot drink.

Whuppity Scoorie

More often seen in western Scotland than anywhere else in the country, this tradition doesn't technically take place at Easter specifically but rather the beginning of springtime. It involves kids gathering on the streets, before making their way to their local church.

Once at the church, the children ring its bells and yell 'Whuppity Scoorie' at the top of their lungs. While the roots of this unique tradition are not fully understood, it is believed to be related to the ancient act of marking the boundaries of a parish by whacking boundary stones with sticks—also known as 'beating the bounds'.