Scottish Christmas Eve bell ringing event almost hits 300k followers with just one more day to go

A festive bell ringing event originally organised by two Scots women to take place only in Forth Valley on Christmas Eve has attracted almost 300,000 followers from all over the globe.

Lauren Sinclair, creator of the '‘Worldwide Santas Christmas Eve Jingle’

Lauren Sinclair, 36, from Falkirk, created the Facebook page ‘Worldwide Santas Christmas Eve Jingle’ on Saturday, October 24 with the goal of spreading cheer and “keeping Christmas alive” by encouraging her community to stand on their doorsteps ringing bells at 6pm on Christmas Eve.

Within 24 hours, the page had hit the 20,000 mark and within four days, they smashed 80,000 as the community continued to grow.

Now, with just one more day to go until everyone comes together to ring their bells, they are sitting at 286,000 and are hoping they might just make it to 300,000.

Lauren Sinclair, founder of the Worldwide Santa's Christmas Eve Jingle Facebook page, rehearses some bell ringing moves with friends and family at Sky High Trampoline Centre in Bankside Industrial Estate

Ms Sinclair told the Evening News this morning: “Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would make it to over 285k, but we’ve become like a big family support unit.

"I’m so grateful the page has been a massive hit in and outwith the UK and we want to thank every single person who takes part in the jingle tomorrow, on Christmas Eve.”

Members of the page come from all over the world, including Kuala Lumpur, Australia and America, and have taken to sharing Christmas posts for others on page to see and enjoy.

Ms Sinclair continued: “I think the stories that stuck out most, or the words rather, are how the page has saved so many people from such a miserable year and how just going on their newsfeed is such a positive experience now.

"Those kinds of comments make my heart melt.”

She added: “We’ve all loved seeing inside peoples homes from across the globe, the gorgeous trees and decorations and seeing the snow, which you know barely happens here.”

As the page grew Ms Sinclair teamed up with singer, Dionne Hickey, to raise money for the Maggies Centre in Forth Valley. They smashed their target of £1000 and hit £3000 instead.

Ms Sinclair said raising the money for the Maggies centre is one of the things she is most proud of.

She added: "It's just about keeping the Christmas spirit alive, that's all we're really wanting to do.”

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