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Tweed and tartan are as traditional as mince pies and tinsel. Here is a selection of gifts for her, for him and for little ones that are sure to delight. For Scots and fans of Scottish heritage and beautiful fabrics, Christmas is a great time to make an addition to their wardrobe as there are many fabulous savings to be made. A made to measure outfit makes for a very special present that will be a delight to wear on special occasions for years to come. There are many lovely outfits to choose from depending on your preferred style and budget. Popular for jackets are Prince Charlie’s and Argylle or for something more casual that can be worn at highland games and in warmer climates opt for a Ghillie shirt outfit. Presenting a gift which includes a family, country or university tartan makes this a truly personal gift. Classic accessories featuring beautifully finished, Scottish made items, delicately engraved and using the finest fur add the finishing touches to a prestigious package. An accessory set in a presentation box is a special gift that allows the receiver to give their outfit a whole new look, they usually include a matching sporran, sgain dhub and belt buckle featuring a Celtic or masonic crest. Individual items are also popular; cufflinks featuring a saltire, masonic symbol are popular and with over fifty styles to choose from you’ll be spoilt for choice! Rugby tops come into their own during the Six nations and are great for everyday wear. Individual sporrans for day or evening wear are a good choice. Harris Tweed is one of Scotland’s best loved brands synonymous with quality and a Harris Tweed jacket or hat is sure to be welcome, their soft feel and thick material makes them perfect for the colder months. For ladies you can’t go wrong with Celtic jewellery to add a bit of sparkle to the day! Earrings, brooches and necklaces in pewter catch the light and keep their shine over time. Look out for pretty designs and colourful stones. Friends abroad will also appreciate a little taste or the romance and history embodied in Celtic inspired jewellery. A ladies wool kilt in a family or country tartan are popular this time of year , from cute tartan mini-kilts and bodices popular on both the catwalk and the high street to more traditional hostess kilts there are many styles to choose from. Tartan is a design that is perpetually popular so these lovely skirts can be worn each year. A tartan scarf is a lovely gift adding a cosy layer and cheer to any outfit. For younger members of the party a kids kilt or tartan dress which start at very small sizes is a fantastic gift which little ones will wear with pride and excitement with having their own tartan item. A traditional Scottish gift is a lovely present for people outside of Scotland too, particularly those who have enjoyed a visit to Scotland , have Scottish roots or have married a Scot. If you’re looking for something a bit different and steeped in tradition a Quaich presented alongside a bottle of fine Scottish whisky makes for a superbe gift. Quaichs are traditional Scottish drinking vessel perfect for New Year’s Eve toasts and ideal if buying a present for a couple to be married in the coming year. Quaichs also look great as ornaments when not in use.                    

Two Panda’s will be arriving at Edinburgh zoo this weekend – there is much excitement as they will be the first time these iconic animals have lived in the UK for seventeen years. The Pandas are being flow in on a Boeing 777 Freighter which has been chartered for the occasion. Pandas are by nature solitary, so the two will be living in separate £250,000 enclosures which feature caves, climbing structures made of tree trunks, and a water feature. Hugh Roberts the Head of Edinburgh Zoo commented that ‘The arrival of Tian Tian and Yang Guang is a historic occasion for the zoo, for Scotland, and for the UK as a whole … our newest additions will offer visitors a once in a lifetime to view these extraordinary animals’ looking to the future he added ‘we are hopeful that the female, Tian Tian, will give birth to cubs – the first to be born in Scotland.’ As well as a great attraction for visitors to the zoo, as Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese Ambassador to the UK explained the Panda’s arrival in the UK is ‘part of a joint 10-year research programme to find out hoe human-bred pandas can survive in the wild.’ Young people will also be given the opportunity to learn more about the Panda’s during their ten year stay as an exciting learning programme has been developed. The generous loan of the pandas from China is also an opportunity to strengthen the business and cultural links between Scotland and China. Chinese Scottish tartan forges also helps to develop the social and political ties between China and Scotland. The The colours chosen for the Chinese Scottish tartan represent the bond between the two countries, the design includes the blue and white of the Saltire combined with the red and yellow of the Chinese flag, green was also included in the design as it is a traditional colour in tartans and references the links between the botanical communities of both China and Edinburgh - indeed the botanic gardens in Edinburgh holds the largest number of Chinese plants outside of China. China’s association with Scotland goes back 1000’s of years when explorers in China found a burial place of Caucasian travellers wearing perfectly preserved tartans. The Chinese Scottish tartan was unveiled on the 6th of April which is National Tartan Day and it was designed jointly by the Scottish Tartan’s Authority and the Strathmore Woollen Company. The new tartan has proved very popular with the local Chinese community, Chinese students studying in Edinburgh and tourists from China – bought for wedding, graduations and as a gift to take back home. Chinese women in particular are attracted to tartan as a high fashion garment. The creation of a Chinese tartan and the arrival of the Pandas are both symbols of co-operation and harmony between China and Scotland.              

This Thursday the 1st of December the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh opens its doors after being re-furbished. A visit to the re-vamped gallery is sure to delight all the family and be a highlight for tourists visiting the Capital. The opening exhibition 'Blazing with Crimson' explores what tartan meant to six people who had their portraits painted between 1680 and 1780. Outwith the exhibition tartan is sure to feature in many of the portraits on show from the traditional to the contemporary. The gallery is open daily from 10am -5pm.

Rihanna performed her new single on the X Factor on the 19th November. Sporting a red tartan checked mini dress. Designed by the late Alexander McQueen the dress showed off plaids fashion credentials and complemented Rihanna's bold style. Check out these cute tartan skirts, tartan meets denim and tartan bubble skirts

Did you know it is possible to find out about each individual piece of Harris Tweed cloth woven? Thanks to records kept by the Harris Tweed Authority, based on the Isle of Lewis, details are recorded for each piece woven including the date of weaving, and who it was woven by! Another key role of The Harris Tweed Authority is to and protect the Harris Tweed brand at home and abroad.

From the islanders of the Hebrides to the tailors of Savile Row, Harris Tweed, the world’s most iconic cloth is known for its beautiful vibrant colours, hard wearing properties and rich history. Hand crafted by weavers in the Outer Hebrides for generations and loved by designers including Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith and Margaret Howell it is a fabric that is both traditional and modern. Harris Tweed’s mark of certification is the instantly recognisable Orb which is branded onto the cloth itself. The Orb is one hundred years old this year and provides Harris Tweed lovers with the knowledge that they are buying genuine Harris Tweed that has been hand-woven by the islanders of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra in their homes, using pure virgin wool that has been dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides

On November 30 the world celebrates St Andrew’s Day, Scotland’s national day. There will be parties galore in Scotland, events around the world, Join the celebrations! St Andrew is the patron saint of not only Scotland, but many other countries including Russia, Romania, Patras in Greece and Amalfi in Italy as well. The St Andrew’s saltire cross flag of Scotland also features on the flags of Australia, New Zealand and the flag of Nova Scotia. Scotland has a deep bond with many of these countries and there is enthusiasm for Scotland’s heritage and traditions. Scots have travelled far and wide and the Scots Diaspora - people claiming Scots descent - is now estimated at some 40 million so it’s little wonder that there are a multitude of St Andrew's Societies across the globe celebrating Scottish heritage and traditions. Throughout the world, the Scottish diaspora marks St Andrew’s Day with special events. The night of the patron saint is not the preserve of the Scottish Diaspora either. There is plenty of celebration at home in Scotland. Ceilidhs are held around the country and in the town that bears the saint's name, St Andrews, there's a week-long festival of arts. Since November 30th 1996, when the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland and housed in Edinburgh Castle it has been decreed that the Castle shall be open with free entry on every St Andrew's Day - in perpetuity - to allow the people of Scotland to view the fabled Stone. This year’s Edinburgh’s St Andrew’s Day celebrations take place on 26 -27 November at Edinburgh Castle with a series of fire and frost themed events. The evening will also see sensational fire drawings, visually stunning projections onto one of Scotland’s greatest landmarks, and the customary, jaw-dropping fireworks display. As part of the celebrations in Scotland on Saint Andrews day admission to Edinburgh Castle, St Andrews Castle and St Andrews Cathedral is free. Look out for special dinner menus at some of East Lothian’s top restaurants and bars invite you to celebrate St Andrew’s Day and enjoy special dinner menus accompanied by musical entertainment. There is no better day to display your Scottish roots kilts in your family, country or district tartan and saltire items such kilt pins, sporrans, and sgain dubhs are the order of the day for men and women can add a flash of tartan with a shawl, mini-kilt and accessorise with Celtic jewellery.    

From present buying, fun-filled events for all the family and stocking up on festive goodies here are some delights not to be missed. Perfect presents For gifts with a difference and delicious treats head to a Christmas fair near you. In Glasgow, there’s the St Enoch Square annual market from 20 November, the Country Living Magazine Christmas Fair held at the SECC brings together over two hundred 200 exhibitors between 17th – 20th November. Other markets that deserve a mention are Granny Would Be Proud on 19th of December the Hidden Pop Up Shop which runs throughout December, the Merchant city makers market and the SuperMercado Festive Indie Marketplace which has live music and gifts galore. De Courcy's Antique Craft Arcade has interesting mix of antique, craft and designer shops and the Victorian Village Antiques market offers memorabilia and costume jewellery as well as a host of other antique items. Traditional Scottish gifts make perfect presents for friends and family at home or abroad. Popular items for men are made- to- measure kilts in their family tartan, sporrans and flasks. Accessory sets which include matching items make a lovely gift and if you are investing in a complete outfit there are some great Christmas offers available. A kilt hire voucher is perfect for those graduating or attending a wedding in Scotland in the New Year. The iconic Harris Tweed, one of Scotland’s best-loved fabrics is makes a gorgeous gift, choose from Harris Tweed jackets, hats and bags. For women shawls, Celtic jewellery, tartan corsets and ladies kilts are popular at this time of year. Younger members of the family needn’t miss out with boy’s kilts and girls tartan dresses available in dinky sizes. Festive Fun Glasgow’s Christmas lights go on 20th November signalling the start of the festive events season. Perfect for getting into the festive spirit are Christmas concerts at City Halls and the Glasgow Royal Concert Halls. For traditional carols and mince pies check out Platform in Glasgow on the 3rd and 10th of December. It’s behind you… The Magical Adventures of Peter Pan hits the Glasgow Pavilion in Glasgow, Scotland, runs from 30 Nov 2011 to 21 Jan 2012. At the SECC John Barrowman and The Krankies will be performing in panto between 17 December 2011 - 7 January 2012. Tasty Treats Glasgow has an abundance of great delicatessens and specialty food shops. Delizique has a great selection of organic produce and Scottish fare and delicious cakes. For a cheese board to die for Mellis’s the cheesemonger have the finest selection in town. Peckham's delicatessen has two branches in Glasgow where you can find an extensive range of wines, cakes and breads. Roots and Fruits is perfect for Brussel sprouts, carrots and parsnips to accompany your turkey or nut roast. For a Scottish-inspired Christmas dessert Dundee cake which was originally a Scottish Christmas cake is a lighter alternative to the traditional Christmas cake. Clootie dumplings made with cinnamon, ginger currants and sultanas are another favourite at Christmas time, or why not try delicious Cranachan make from oats cream and whisky. For snacks Haggis crisps, tablet and Edinburgh rock are perfect for munching in front of the TV!    

The Christmas fair in East Princess Street Gardens is lovely to wander around - sip mulled wine and sample sweet and savoury delicacies while you browse. A trip to an antiques fair in the build up to Christmas is great for picking up unusual quality gifts, the next one takes place at Meadowbank stadium on Sunday 4th of December. For those on a budget charity shops in Stockbridge and Morningside are a cut above the usual charity shop, crammed with quality high street and designer items. For Christmas gifts with a distinctive Scottish feel handmade sweet treats like shortbread stars and Christmas trees, whisky tablet or Edinburgh rock look lovely presented in a box with tartan ribbon. Tartan ribbons also make lovely Christmas tree decorations. Traditional Scottish gifts are great for friends and family at home or abroad. Popular for men are cufflinks, sporrans and flasks. Accessory sets make a great gift and are good value too. An authentic kilt in the family tartan is a thoughtful gift which will last for years to come. If you are investing in a complete outfit there are some great Christmas offers available at this time of year. A kilt hire voucher to be used at a friend’s wedding or graduation is sure to be welcome. Harris Tweed is one of Scotland’s best-loved fabrics and Harris Tweed jackets, hats and bags are particularly popular at this time of year.   For women you can’t go wrong with shawls, Celtic jewellery or a ladies mini or Billie kilt. Younger members of the family are also catered for boy’s kilts and full outfits and girls tartan dresses come in small sizes - loved by little ones they also look adorable.

Last night’s 2011 Scottish Baftas honored the good and great of film and TV. Following an absence of two years the event held in Glasgow was back to its glamorous best.   Peter Mullen’s Neds picked up two awards the Limmy Show and the Scheme were also recognized for excellence and Donkey’s picked up the award for best film. Robbie Coltrane of Harry Potter and cracker was delighted with his well-deserved ‘outstanding contribution to film award.