Sunday Washington globe., 1902-01-12
The Land of Cakes and Plum
Puddings.
The SCOTCH NEW YEAR
Enthusiastically Observed and the
Day Given Up TO Fostering Domestic
Harmony-The Customs Of the Scot
tish People IN Their Native Land at
the Beginning OF the New Year.

tirely given up 10 fostering domestic har-
mouy and repeating the glorious gospel of
peace on earth and good will toward men.
No other period of the year is so potent as
this with the Scot in healing the wounds of
friendship and in warming the hearts of his
countrymen toward his fellows. In the
homes of the poorer classes the best of
good cheer is spread, his dearest friends
are invited and, whatever else may grace
his table the plum pudding, surrounded
with mountain heather, and the inevitable
haggis, are there, aud If possible, small
keg Of mountain dew is placed conspic.
uously in the center of the table. A bunch
of mistletOe is not far of, and no guests are
permitted to leave their seats until the keg
has been emptied Of its contents-customs
strongly savoriug of paganisu, without
doubt. and handed down from heather an
cestors. who we're. nevertheless in their
own time aud way good men and true.
To the American cook nothing is more
mysterious than a Scotch plum pudding,
which all loyal Scotchmen insist on having
on New Years day. After the ingredients
have been given out, TOO often when made
by novice the pudding has come to table
in the form of thick soup.
It is a custom on New Years day among
a number Of the country squires and wealthy
farmers IN the north of Scotland 10 organize
hunting parties. On such outings the plum
pudding is included in the bill Of fare. In
stead. however of having the pudding made
before starting out, il is customary TO take
the ingredients along, mix them and boil
in pot sluug over a log FIRE at the camping
ground. The writer participated IN one of
these hunting excursions, where a big,
burly, killed Scotchman who had never
made a plum pudding was delegated to act
as cook Before starting out he had care
lessly put the precious fruit, flour and sugar
in what was called the strong box This
likewise contained stores of powder
shot. caps, soap and various other
ct ceteras. On our arrival at a
suitable camping ground Scotty was left
behind to get dinner ready. After opening
the strong box" and eliminating all foreign
bodies as carefully as possible the pudding
was duly mixed, tied up IN the cloth after
the established manner and placed in the
pot Many a time was il taken out and its
state examined by the point Of the fork be.
fore it was at last, after boiling all day,
pronounced thoroughly cooked. On the
return of the party dinner was ready, which
consisted of Scotch kali, leg Of roast beef
spuds (potatoes) haggis and green peas
and the pudding No one who has no
been restricted entirely to one species o
food for long time can form any idea ol
our crushing disappointment on tasting
that pudding On digging knife into the
heart of it we discovered that it consisted OF
caps, buckshot aud Jumps of suet. To
spoil plum pudding on New Years day
in Scotland is practically next door to
committing a crime On this occasion,
however the TASKS were produced and the
cook was soon forgotten in song:
A Plumbs the prophets son despise
An a sorrows be forgot
Treasou's in Oor December puddiu
And death within the pot.
Auld year farewell thy days II fear)
An merry days er dine,
But let us not forget the day
The puddin ow're brither hzzled
Followed by the chorus:
Welcome be ye that arnie here,
Welcome a an max gid cheer
Welcome a another year,
Welcome a
A custom which is generally observed b,
the working classes is what is called hrs
footing" At all hours Of the early morning
Of the FIRST day Of the new year an effort h
made to be the FIRST to call on their frieud
at their homes The one who is luck
enough to be hrst to catch his friend in i
invited to partake Of short bread cake and
nip o. whisky after the usual handshak,
and Draw New Year" By the time h,
has made all the calls he can remembe
making the first day Of the new year i
dawning, and Scotty can be seen sailing
znajestically homeward his inner man hlleC
with New Year S hospitalites Those livinI
an the country will walk many miles 20 bic
a Draw New Year to their friends in th'
city. II is no uncommon thug TO see
family Of FIVE or six leave their home abou
10 O'Clock at night and walk three or fou
miles in a snow storm in order to ~hrs
foot" their relatives or friends living IN th
city. Very often they are disappointed II
their surprise visits in finding the object o
their journey was not at home.
On returning homeward, however, the,
will sometimes meet their friends whom
they intended frst footing aud 20 learn tina
they had gone to first foot them, and vic
versa.
The birth of the new year is announced
in the town and cities by the striking Of tn
local town hall clock on the hour Of u ami
followed by the ringing of the church bells
Lt rs soon dtter LhiA LndL uthL lDOlln8 De
gins Long before the approach Of r. grea
crowds Of people surround the city hall an
eagerly watch the big hand Of the clock a
il approaches the last hour Of the old veal
Every one in the big crowd has bottle q
some description IN his possession. Imme
diately the big hand Of the clock marks th
first stroke of every bottle is thrown 81
multaneously against the walls Of the hal
followed by tremendous crash. This
an ancient custom but is now rapidly dyin
out It is still practiced however, ever
New Years eve against the Old walls Of th
Trou church in Edinburgh the capital
In the highlands the New Year is ushere
IN by the tolling of the auld kirk bell an
the playing Of bagpipes. In a clear, frost
night to hear this much maligued instrl
snent played by a thoroughbred highlands
among the hills and from a distance Of
mile the notes are stripped Of their harsl
ness and seem to be waited across TO 20
by the clear atmosphere in one harmonioI
melody. Il really beautiful and iuspi
ing.