Good morning,

Welcome to your Wednesday, we've made it half way through the week. 

Here's the latest news you need to need to know in Scotland today. 

But while you're here, please consider taking out a digital subscription with us from just £3 a month. You'll have full access to all our news, opinion, and sport and see fewer ads, and you'll be supporting our journalism which has been hit by the pandemic. Give us a try here.

The 9 Scottish towns, cities, and villages bringing festive cheer

We need some festive cheer after the year we've had. 

And these Christmas light displays, from small villages to big cities in Scotland, have certainly put a smile on our face. 

So we've made a picture gallery with all our favourite twinkling decorations on show, and all the stories behind them.

From Angus to Edinburgh, see if where you live has made it on our list here. 

The 'intriguing and unsettling' Scottish island tradition

As winter came, the skeklers moved from house to house, dancing around the fire and banging wooden staves on the floor in celebration of the supernatural. 

Sounds like fun. Have you heard of the Shetland pagan tradition of Skekling? Do you know what a gloy or grølek is?

We explored the cultural practice which has roots in Scandinavian culture. 

Find out more about Skekling and what it involves in our article here.

The full list of changes to Scottish lockdown levels

Yesterday major changes were made as Nicola Sturgeon announced the new lockdown levels for areas across Scotland. 

There was disappointment as Edinburgh remained in level three despite health officials' recommendations, while 11 local authorities were moved from the toughest level four restrictions to level three. 

Get a full picture of the changes made to Covid tiers for every area of Scotland here.

And make sure you do not miss the latest coronavirus news as it unfolds. See our live blog here.

Thanks for reading and have a good day,

Ginny - ginny.sanderson@jpimedia.co.uk