Greenman’s Grotto at The Secret Herb Garden: instead of Santa asking a child ‘what do you want for Christmas?’, why not allow a child the chance to hear how to respect and care for something really special – a tree? Enter the enchanted lit glasshouse and follow a fairy path to a hidden natural grotto where the Greenman awaits; once here choose a bare root tree from six indigenous species: alder, rowan. silver birch, oak, scots pine or hawthorn. The Greenman will help you to pot up your tree and to choose a stone or shell to keep with it; there will also be advice on how to nurture your gift. Allow the tree to become part of your life, grow together through the changing seasons, and witness the magic unfold. 10am-4pm, The Secret Herb Garden, 32a Old Pentland Road, EH10 7EA (for more information re location see the Secret Herb Garden’s website or call 07525 069773). £5 per child or adult, no booking required. Also at same times on Saturday 20th, Sunday 21st, Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd December 2014.
The Guid Crack Hearth: come and gather round the fireside and warm yourself with stories of Christmas past and present, with storyteller Bea Ferguson. Edinburgh’s monthly storytelling night, upstairs at the Waverley Bar. Accompanied young adults welcome. 7.30-9.30pm, Waverley Bar (upstairs), 1 St Mary’s Street. Free: suggested donation £3.
Leith School of Art Christmas Exhibition: this year’s exhibition will include a selection of work from the school’s new full-year courses in Printmaking, Landscape, Art & Spirituality, and Critical & Professional Development, together with work from evening and day classes. 10am-4pm, Leith School of Art, 25 North Junction Street. Also open at same times on Saturday 20th December 2014.
Cookie decorating! A free Christmas craft event for ages 4+. 2.30-3.30pm, Stockbridge Library, 11 Hamilton Place.
Cezanne’s Montagne Sainte-Victoire: Frances Fowle, Senior Curator, Scottish National Gallery, and Lesley Stevens, Senior Paintings Conservator, National Galleries of Scotland, will reveal their new discoveries concerning this painting’s date, technique and viewpoint, the result of recent art historical and conservation research. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.
Family Festive Cinema at the Scottish National Gallery: enjoy the popular Disney film Frozen in the comfort of the gallery’s very own cinema. Frozen is a contemporary retelling of the classic Hans Christian Anderson story of The Snow Queen. 2pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Tickets costs £4.10 (adult), £3.85 (child), £10 (family – up to 2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 3 children) and can be booked via eventbrite. Also available at same time on Sunday 21st December 2014.
Your World War One Family History: Drop-in Session. Do you have any diaries, photographs, medals or letters from World War One that you would like to find out more about, or are you trying to discover more about your family’s history in World War One? Come and talk to the experts and get some free one-to-one help. 11am-1pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free but please book via eventbrite so that the library can allocate the time you need: if these times are not convenient for you, please email edwar@edinburgh.ac.uk to make another appointment.
Christmas Crafts for all the family: 2-3pm, Kirkliston Library, Station Road and South Queensferry Library, Shore Road.
Christmas Bookbug Singalong – for all the family! 10.30-11am, Kirkliston Library, Station Road.
Festive crafts for children: 3pm, Piershill Library, 30 Piershill Terrace. All welcome!
Rally & Broad: Never Mind The Full Stops – The R & B Edition. Paula Varjack and Dan Simpson are the masterminds behind this ‘pop-meets-poetry panel show mash up…(in which) brilliant poets and performers play silly games like Poetry Karaoke…and explore the efforts of celebrities writing poems.’ With Michael Pedersen, Chrissy Barnacle and music from Black Diamond Express. 7-10pm, The Bongo Club, 66 Cowgate. Tickets are £5 on the door. ‘Poetry as you’ve never seen it before’.
Carols in the Car Park: 15 minutes of fun carols. 5pm, St Mary Magdalene Church, Bingham Avenue, EH15 3HY. Everyone welcome!
Christmas Workshop for Children: candles, games, music, crafts, storytelling, music and more. For children in P1 to P7. 1.30-5.30pm, Church Hall, St Peter’s Church, Lutton Place. £3 per child. ‘A treat for children, a gift to parents’.
Nitekirk: a sacred space for all; a place of welcome, a space for stillness, a pause on your journey, an open door. This month’s theme is Thread for New Life. 8-11pm (drop-in any time), St Columba’s-by-the-Castle, 14 Johnston Terrace. All welcome. For more information about Nitekirk, see website.
