Did You Know? - New Year's Eve - Hogmanay Did You Know? - New Year's Eve - Hogmanay What does Hogmanay actually mean and what is the derivation of the name? Why do the Scots more than any other nation celebrate the New Year with such a passion? Why should a tall dark stranger be a welcome first foot visitor after midnight, carrying a lump of coal and a slice of black bun? Read on ���� The Origins of Hogmanay A guid New Year to ane an` a` and mony may ye see! While New Year's Eve is celebrated around the world, the Scots have a long rich heritage associated with this event - and have their own name for it, Hogmanay. There are many theories about the derivation of the word "Hogmanay". The Scandinavian word for the feast preceding Yule was "Hoggo-nott" while the Flemish words (many have come into Scots) "hoog min dag" means "great love day". Hogmanay could also be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon, Haleg monath, Holy Month, or the Gaelic, oge maidne, new morning. But the most likely source seems to be the French.

"Homme est né" or "Man is born" while in France the last day of the year when gifts were exchanged was "aguillaneuf" while in Normandy presents given at that time were "hoguignetes". Take your pick! In Scotland a similar practice to that in Normandy was recorded, rather disapprovingly, by the Church. "It is ordinary among some Plebians in the South of Scotland, to go about from door to door upon New Year`s Eve, crying Hagmane." Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence, 1693. Hogmanay Traditional Celebrations Historians believe that we inherited the celebration from the Vikings who, coming from even further north than ourselves, paid even more attention to the passing of the shortest day. In Shetland, where the Viking influence was strongest, New Year is called Yules, from the Scandinavian word. It may not be widely known but Christmas was not celebrated as a festival and virtually banned in Scotland for around 400 years, from the end of the 17th century to the 1950s.

The reason for this has its roots in the Protestant Reformation when the Kirk portrayed Christmas as a Popish or Catholic feast and therefore had to be banned. Many Scots had to work over Christmas and their winter solstice holiday was therefore at New Year when family and friends gathered for a party and exchange presents, especially for the children, which came to be called hogmanay. There are traditions before midnight such as cleaning the house on 31st December (including taking out the ashes from the fire in the days when coal fires were common). There is also the superstition to clear all your debts before "the bells" at midnight. Immediately after midnight it is traditional to sing Robert Burns' "For Auld Lang Syne" . Burns claimed it was based on an earlier fragment and certainly the tune was in print over 80 years before he published his version in 1788. "Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup o kindness yet, for auld lang syne." An integral part of the Hogmanay partying, which continues very much today, is to welcome friends and strangers, with warm hospitality to wish everyone a Guid New Year. The underlying belief is to clear out the vestiges of the old year, have a clean break and welcome in a young, New Year on a happy note. "First footing" (that is, the "first foot" in the house after midnight) is not as common as it used to be in Scotland. To ensure good luck for the house, the first foot should be male, dark (believed to be a throwback to the Viking days when blond strangers arriving on your doorstep meant trouble) and should bring symbolic coal, shortbread, salt, black bun and whisky. These days, however, whisky and perhaps shortbread are the only items still prevalent (and available). "Handselling" was the custom of gift giving on the first Monday of the New Year but this has died out.

Torch and Bonfire Ceremonies The magical Firework display and torchlight procession in Edinburgh - and throughout many cities in Scotland - is reminiscent of the ancient custom at Scottish Hogmanay pagan parties hundreds of years ago. The traditional New Year ceremony of yesteryear would involve people dressing up in the hides of cattle and running around the village being hit by sticks. The festivities would also include the lighting of bonfires, rolling blazing tar barrels down the hill and tossing torches. Animal hide was also wrapped around sticks and ignited which produced a smoke that was believed to be very effective to ward off evil spirits. The smoking stick was also known as a Hogmanay. Some of these customs do continue, especially in the small, older communities in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland where tradition, along with language and dialect are kept alive and well. On the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, the young boys form themselves into opposing bands, the leader of each wears a sheep skin, while a member carries a sack. The bands move through the village from house to house reciting a Gaelic rhyme. On being invited inside, the leader walks clockwise around the fire, while everyone hits the skin with sticks.

The boys would be given some bannocks - fruit buns - for their sack before moving on to the next house. One of the most spectacular Fire ceremonies takes place in Stonehaven, just south of Aberdeen on the North East coast. Giant fireballs, weighing up to 20 pounds are lit and swung around on five feet long metal poles, requiring 60 men to carry them as they march up and down the High Street. The origin of the pre-Christian custom is believed to be linked to the Winter Solstice of late December with the fireballs signifying the power of the sun, to purify the world by consuming evil spirits. And it is worth remembering that January 2nd is a holiday in Scotland as well as the first day of the year - to give us all time to recover from a week of merry-making and celebration, all part of Scotland's fascinating cultural legacy of ancient customs and traditions surrounding the pagan festival of Hogmanay. Use the "Back" button on your browser or click here to return to the Index of "Did You Know?" Where else would you like to go in Scotland?

Links Pages Hogmanay - New Year's in Scotland Hogmanay The Medievalist Hogmanay - New Year's in Scotland For most Americans, Christmas is more than a day - it's an entire month of festivities, reflecting our multiethnic and multireligious culture with an enormous amount of both common and uncommon traditions. It's hard to imagine all the planning, parties, gifts and good times geared towards a holiday other than Christmas. But in Scotland, they do just that. If you want to party hearty, celebrate a low-key Christmas at home, then get your plane tickets to arrive in Edinburgh around the 28th of December and plan to stay at least through January 3 (you'll need that long to recover!). In Scotland, all the Scots' love of dancing, music, mischievous merry-making and, of course, whisky drinking , come together in the biggest party of the year - Hogmanay (New Year's Eve to the rest of us). Consider the tremendous influence of Scottish traditions on our own New Year's Eve celebrations - what song do we all sing? Auld Lang Syne, naturally. What list do we all make on January 1?

Our New Year's resolutions, a tradition invented by the Scots (yes, really). Why are guests told to BYOB? Because the Scots have a custom called "first footing" which consists of a handsome young man (we wish) being the first to cross our threshold as soon as the "bells ring" at midnight, bearing gifts of bread or meat (food for the new year), coal (warmth for the new year), and, what else? Whisky - drink for the new year and by far the most important and consistently unforgotten contribution. History of Hogmanay in Scotland How did it come about that the Scots celebrate New Year's so much more heartily than Christmas? During the middle ages, Scotland celebrated a merry Christmas just as cheerfully, piously and faithfully as the other Celtic countries - a wonderful combination of celebrating the "Christ's Mass" in the Catholic tradition combined with Celtic customs and traditions that are familiar to us through celebrations in England and Ireland.

For instance, the Scots decorated their homes with mistletoe and juniper, created and performed comic skits (mumming), prepared and ate special foods, and carefully selected and prepared a Yule log (a tradition the Scots still maintain and Christmas itself is still often called "Yule" in Scotland). Unfortunately, in the late 1500s, the Scottish Reformation took a strong stand against pagan (eg, Catholic) celebrations and abolished Christmas. They abolished it for four hundred years - no kidding. Christmas was not a day off work for most Scots until almost 1960. This is not to say the Scots didn't celebrate Christmas; it was just a private, family holiday without much ado. But this went very much against Scots nature. The Scots like to party. They like to have fun. So in the early 1600s, they changed the date of New Year's from March 25 to January 1 and began celebrating Hogmanay.

As the original midwinter celebrations were based on the fire rituals of pagan times (the Yule log is an example), and as many Scots remained Catholic, especially in the Highlands, the resourceful Scots simply transferred the bulk of their Christmas celebrations to New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Throughout Scotland today, Hogmanay is a two-day holiday (no work on January 1 or 2) filled with all kinds of festivals, parties, bonfires and, now, fireworks. Edinburgh's Hogmanay Festival lasts for days and includes one of the most spectacular fireworks displays in the world. In many parts of Scotland, a midnight mass is still celebrated on New Year's Eve. And just like us, they sing Auld Lang Syne and often wake up with a major hangover the next morning. Christmas & New Year Celebrations In Scotland | Luxury Scotland Written by Linda Jackson The hype is building. Christmas decorations have been glistening in the shops for a month or two, Christmas wish lists are being drafted, enchanting Christmas shows are selling out fast, and festive fairs in Scotland are promising to sparkle even more this year.

Skating rinks, Christmas markets, Ferris wheels and fairground rides are coming out of mothballs, and Santa – who strangely seems to be everywhere at once these days – is getting prepared for all those spellbound children he’ll have sitting on his knee at countless ‘visit Santa’ appearances in Scotland. Christmas winter wonderland in Scotland is undeniably nigh. Let’s start the Christmas spirit really bubbling, shall we. Think of a champagne cork being popped, a wee dram of fine Scottish malt whisky being poured into a crystal glass, the aroma of a traditional Christmas roast to tantalize your taste buds. Champagne at Christmas "Imagine a roaring log fire, a Christmas tree laden with glittering decorations, and a melodic choir singing Christmas carols." To those simmering festive Christmas ingredients, add a good helping of enchanting events, a barrel-load of festive fun, and mix well with Christmas treats for all the family. Pour this appetising Christmas blend into an elegant Scottish hotel with all the trimmings, and there you have it… a recipe for an unforgettable luxury Christmas break in Scotland.

During the last two months of every year a variety of festive events are organised at The National Trust for Scotland properties; although several take place in November such as wreath-making, craft fairs and special shopping events, there are many more festivities throughout Scotland at NTS houses and castles during December. There will, for example, be an opportunity to meet Mrs Claus (Santa’s wife), and savour a six-course sumptuous feast by candlelight, at Pollok House which is beautifully decorated for Christmas (near Glasgow, until 24 December). Or try your hand at wreath-making at Kellie Castle (Kingdom of Fife, 10 & 17 December) and making Christmas crackers, Christmas cards, and crackers at Holmwood (4 miles from Glasgow city centre, 3-4 & 10-11 December).

Drum Castle Visit the indoor Christmas market at Drum Castle (10 miles from Aberdeen: 4, 11, 18 December) and discover the 13th century secret chamber which acts as the Christmas elves’ toy factory; and join in carol singing at Castle Fraser (Inverurie: 8 December), Hill House (Greater Glasgow: 9 December), Culzean Castle (Ayrshire: 10 December), Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse (Fife: 10 December), House of Dun (Angus: 15 December), Brodick Castle (Isle of Arran: 11 December); or a festive concert at Falkland Palace & Garden (Cupar, Fife: 17 December).

Santa's Grotto Children can visit Santa’s Grotto in Arduaine Garden (20 miles south of Oban: 17-18 December) while parents enjoy mince pies and mulled wine; enjoy story-telling, face painting, craft-making, as well as Santa, at Castle Fraser Garden & Estate (16 miles from Aberdeen: 11 December); and search for Santa’s reindeers at the House of Dun & Montrose Basin Nature Reserve (Angus: 10-11 & 17-18 December). Culzean Castle & Country Park (12 miles south of Ayr: 4 & 11 December) is set to become an especially enchanting Christmas venue for children where they can follow the Rudolph Christmas trail and see costumed characters throughout the decorated castle… such as Cinderella and Prince Charming, Jack (of the beanstalk era) or the Mad Hatter.

No festive season is complete without a good old Pantomime to go to… take the family to the Glasgow Pavilion to be entranced by The Magical Adventures of Peter Pan (up to 21 January) and, also in Glasgow, you’ll find Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates at the Clyde Auditorium (17 December-7 January). Join Jack at His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen to see Jack and the Beanstalk, and Aladdin at the Alhambra Theatre in Dunfermline. It’s usually around a month prior to Christmas that Edinburgh gets into its festive gear: the trees in Princes Street Gardens are adorned with fairy lights; an outdoor ice rink is prepared, and a funfair is stocked with fun – fairground rides, roller-coasters, carousel and big wheel. Picturesque wooden stalls in a German Christmas market sell tempting wares: mulled wine, hot food, crafts and unusual Christmas gifts. "You’ll find Santa’s reindeer garden and a Santa Express; a nativity scene and, if you’re lucky, Santa himself.

" German Christmas Market Incidentally, should you or your children be sceptical as to whether Santa Clause really exists and need to be convinced he’s alive and kicking, then go to Glasgow for the annual Santa Dash (11 December) where around 3,300 cloned Santas were seen dashing around the city last year. A Great Scottish Santa Run will also be held in Edinburgh on 11 December where you can witness hundreds, if not thousands, of Santas on the run in their red and white togs. Join them if you will: the dash is for charity. There’s no need to worry if you’re not sure what to wear: the latest designer Santa gear will be supplied to participants on registration (an elf outfit for under-12s). It’s a colourful fun run to keep the Christmas spirit ball rolling… ever nearer to the legendary Hogmanay in Scotland. There are numerous Hogmanay events, firework displays, and ceilidhs (Scottish dances) organised throughout Scotland… George Square Celebrations ...

in Inverness there is the Loch Ness Hogmanay Festival and Red Hot Highland Fling event, and in Stonehaven (15 miles south of Aberdeen) a traditional Fireballs ceremony takes place where around 45 participants swing fireballs around their heads. Glasgow however, instead of an official Hogmanay party this year, will be staging a family day in George Square which promises entertainment for all the family, music and ceileidh dancing. The legendary Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh city really don’t need any introduction at all. They’re world-famous. Just be there. For many revellers worldwide, being in Scotland for the New Year and joining in the Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh is a MUST… many times over. In fact, 80,000 times over. That is the estimated number of revellers from home and overseas who took part in the Hogmanay street parties in Edinburgh last year.

Three days of Hogmanay celebrations this year will include a torchlight procession (Friday 30 December); the Concert in the Gardens (music and fireworks in West Princess Street Gardens) and a candlelit concert at St Giles Cathedral (Royal Mile), both on Saturday 31 December; plus, of course, the world-famous Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party to welcome in the New Year with that very special blend of Scottish verve and gusto. Hogmanay Fireworks This December newsletter presents an ideal opportunity for all of us here at Luxury Scotland to wish our readers and guests a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year… ...hopefully while staying in one of our exclusive luxury hotels in Scotland where Christmas festivities start with the ‘pop’ of a champagne cork and New Year celebrations with a luxurious bang. Have fun! Connoisseurs Scotland h2g2 - Hogmanay - the Scottish New Year - Edited Entry A guid New Year to ane an' a'! 'A good New Year to one and all.' - traditional Scots toast at Hogmanay. Hogmanay is the Scots 1 word for the celebration to welcome the New Year.

Traditionally it runs from noon on 31 December to noon on 1 January, but it is now generally taken to mean the whole new year festive period; the festivities often continue well into the new year and even into 2 January as well. It is a time of hope and looking forward to a better year. History and Origins The celebration of Hogmanay can be traced back to the pagan practices of sun and fire worship in mid-winter. The Roman festival of Saturnalia involved great festivities with lots of wine and food, as well as more lascivious goings-on. The Vikings celebrated Yule, beginning on the shortest day of the year with sacrifices to the Norse gods and continuing for a number of days. The customs of Hogmanay probably combine elements of both of these with elements of druidic winter solstice practices 2 . Following the Scottish Reformation in the 1560s, celebrating Christmas was frowned upon by the rather dour version of Calvinism introduced by John Knox and his successors, who believed it was too superstitious and too Roman Catholic. This was taken so seriously, and preached so vociferously in parish churches, that the celebration of Christmas was effectively banned, except in its pure religious sense.

However, while the reformers could ban Christmas, they were unable to do the same for New Year. The celebrations were forced to go underground during the Interregnum under Oliver Cromwell, who banned Christmas in 1651, but it re-emerged in the late 17th Century. Right up until the 1950s, Hogmanay was the major festival of the winter season. Christmas Day was a normal working day in Scotland until the 1960s and even into the 1970s in some areas. Instead, people took holidays over the New Year period, 31 December to 2 January, with all the feasting and gift-giving which is now associated primarily with Christmas. By the 1980s/90s, Christmas had once again become a huge festival, due in large part to the waning influence of the church and the increasing effect of 'international' cultural traditions. However, despite Christmas Day and Boxing Day being made public holidays in the 1960s, as they had been for years in England, Hogmanay is still associated with as much celebration as Christmas in Scotland, if not more.

Indeed, both 1 and 2 January are public holidays in Scotland whereas in England only 1 January is a holiday. Etymology No-one is really sure where the word Hogmanay comes from. The Gaelic 3 phrase for Hogmanay is Oidhche na Challuinne, meaning 'the night of the new year.' On Shetland, heavily influenced by the Vikings, New Year is called Yules. The word Hogmanay can be traced back to 1696 with reference to someone singing a 'hog ma nae song.' The Oxford English Dictionary dates Hogmynae-night as a festival as far back as 1680. Some possible origins are: Oige maidne This means 'new morning' in Old Gaelic. There is a Gaelic Hogmanay song starting with these words. Hoguinané This Norman French word is derived from the Old French 'Anguillanneuf' meaning 'gift at new year'. There is some evidence for this as the origin of Hogmanay in the old Jersey custom of crying 'ma hodgîngnole' and the Guernsey custom of asking for a new year gift, an 'oguinane'.

The Auld Alliance between Scotland and France, first recorded in the year 1295, led to a quite a bit of French influence on the language and customs in Scotland, so this is probably the front-runner in the 'origin of the word Hogmanay' stakes. Hoog min dag This means 'day of great love' in Flemish (Dutch). For centuries the Flemish and Scots were great trading partners, so it's quite possible that the Scots appropriated a phrase from Flemish. Haleg monaþ This Old English phrase means 'holy month', meaning the month around Christmas. French Phrases Au gui mener - 'lead to the mistletoe.' Au gui l'an neuf - 'to the mistletoe the new year.' Homme est né - '(the) man is born.' Less Likely Origins Aguinaldo - Spanish for 'Christmas gift'. Αγια μηνη - Greek for 'holy month'. Hug me now - in 1824, John MacTaggart proposed this as the origin of Hogmanay, suggesting that the word comes from a time when it was common to greet someone with a kiss.

Customs There are many customs associated with Hogmanay throughout Scotland, some local, some national. There are ceilidhs 4 and parties all round the country, from small family gatherings to the city-centre parties attended by tens of thousands of people. Many of the local customs involve the use of fire; it is said that this symbolises lighting the way into the coming year and carrying the light of knowledge into the future, but it is more likely to be a hold-over from pagan midwinter rites, when fire was very important. Auld Lang Syne Perhaps the most famous custom associated with New Year around the world is the singing of Auld Lang Syne . This traditional Scots song was made famous by Robert Burns ; he didn't write the original, although it is thought that he wrote the 3rd and 4th verses. Normally, however, only the first and last (5th) verses, with the chorus, are sung. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne? And there's a hand, my trusty friend, And give me a hand of yours, And we'll take a very hearty drink, For days gone by!

It's become traditional to join hands in a circle during the first verse, then to cross your hands in front of you and join hands again for the last verse; this brings everyone in the circle closer together, which just reinforces the sentiments of the song. Don't worry if you don't know all the words. Many people will sing something like, 'Should auld acquaintance be forgot, la lah la lah la lahh, …… la lah, for auld lang syne!' The important thing is showing willing and being with friends. The Bells This is the moment at which the clock strikes midnight. Now is when toasts are proposed: 'A Guid New Year to ane an' a'!' or just, 'Happy New Year!' This is also the time for lots of hugs and kisses and general merriment. First-footing The most widespread national custom is that of first-footing 7 , which starts immediately after the bells. This involves being the first person to enter the house of a friend or neighbour 8 , thus becoming the first foot in the door. Hence, the person doing the first-footing is known as the first-foot. Gifts The first-foot is expected to bring suitable gifts to ensure good luck throughout the year.

These may include: A lump of coal - for warmth. Cake or biscuits - to ensure the household never goes hungry. The cake is often a very rich and moist fruit cake known as Black Bun. Salt - to bring wealth. When presenting the lump of coal, the first-foot should say, 'Lang may yer lum reek', a traditional Scots good luck blessing for the long dark nights, literally translated as 'Long may your chimney smoke.' Nowadays, however, gifts usually consist of a bottle 9 and a box of chocolates or other sweets. The First-foot It is important for the good luck of the household that the first-foot is a suitable person; the ideal first-foot is a tall, dark-haired stranger - this harks back to the days of the Vikings, when a blond-haired stranger arriving in the middle of the night wasn't usually good news. Of course, these days, it is more likely that the first-foot will be known to those being visited, but as long as he's tall 10 and dark, that's okay. Some traditions say he should be handsome as well, but that's probably just a general wish on the part of the female members of the visited households.

Come to that, there's no reason nowadays why a woman can't be the first-foot, although some traditionalists do insist that female first-foots are unlucky. First-foots 11 don't always stop at just visiting one house. Sometimes just one person will go on to another house; more often a group of friends will go round each other's houses. The first-foot may be the same person at each door or they may take turns; the only important thing is that there must be gifts for each house visited. The first-footing, which quickly becomes second, third, or more-footing, often continues well into the morning of 1st January, with participants joining in and dropping out throughout the night - and the next day. Of course, you may think that the first-foot is getting a bit of a raw deal, giving gifts to each house he visits. Not so. In exchange for his bringing you luck, it is traditional to offer him food and drink. The drink will obviously be tailored to the person, but if you want to be really traditional, offer him a Het Pint (a combination of ale , nutmeg and whisky ) or at least a dram of whisky, preferably a large one.

What if you don't get a first-foot? You might live somewhere out-of-the-way, or your house might be missed out for some reason, or maybe you're away visiting family or friends. For whatever reason you haven't been first-footed, you don't want to miss out on the luck, so what do you do? Opinions vary on this, but it's quite common in rural areas to leave a lump of coal outside the door so that when you next go into the house you can first-foot yourself. You may not be tall or dark and you're certainly not a stranger but at least the house should be blessed with good luck. Redding This is the custom of giving the house a clear-out before the new year. In particular, it is important to make sure that all the fires in the house are cleared of their ashes, to allow for new fires to be laid and started; this probably has its origins in pagan midwinter fire festivals, although it might just be a practical matter of making sure you can have a fire burning which won't go out while you are out partying.

In past centuries, it was traditional to burn juniper throughout the house while cleaning it, to ensure that any evil spirits which might have moved in during the year were also cleaned out. Redding has largely fallen into abeyance, but most people still do at least some clearing out before Hogmanay, even if it's just tidying up after Christmas in preparation for a New Year shindig. Fireball Swinging This is a custom peculiar to the town of Stonehaven in Kincardineshire, North-east Scotland. It has been documented since 1908, though it is believed to be much, much older. It involves local people making up forty to sixty balls of tar, wire and some flammable material: paper, rags, twigs, pine cones, bits of coal, etc. Each ball is then given to a swinger who swings the flaming ball round and round his (or her) head and body by a 5-6ft (1.5 - 1.8m) wire rope or chain.

Each ball is made as heavy as each swinger feels he/she can handle; they can be anywhere between 5lb and 15lb (2.2 - 6.6kg), and be up to 3ft (1m) in diameter. The swingers treat it as a show of strength, competing to see who can swing his ball for the longest time; hardened swingers can keep it up for half an hour. In the past, some balls are reported to have burned for up to 2 hours, but now last for only about 20 - 30 minutes. The procession of swingers goes through the streets of Stonehaven via the High Street, the Mercat Cross and the Sheriff Court, accompanied by pipes and drums. It ends at the harbour where any balls still burning are thrown into the water. Large crowds come from miles around to watch the spectacle, which is extremely impressive, particularly on a very dark, moonless night. Kirkwall Handba' The Handba' game between the Uppies and the Doonies, in Kirkwall, Orkney , is a hotly-contested event on New Year's Day every year.

Scrambling through the streets in the dead of winter trying to keep control of, or even find, the ball for your team, in a game whose rules are a bit lax, has to be one of the ultimate hangover cures. The game in its present form dates from around 1850, but there was a ba' game on the Ba' Lea long before that. Originally, the side you were on was decided by which side of town you were born on: up-gate 12 or down-gate. Now, it is more down to family loyalties, with each team routinely consisting of over 100 players. The Ba' game begins at 1pm precisely when the leather ball is tossed into the crowd gathered at the Mercat Cross opposite the Cathedral. The objective is for the opposing scrums to move the ball either up the street or down the street; it can be a few hours before a victory is achieved. There is a boys' game at 10:30am and there is hope of resurrecting a women's game, which was played in 1945/46, just after the Second World War .

The Biggar Bonfire The Hogmanay bonfire on the High Street in Biggar 13 , Lanarkshire, like many celebrations, supposedly dates back to mid-winter fire-worship in pagan times. The burning of the bonfire has been going on for hundreds of years, even continuing during World War II , although during the war it consisted only of a candle in a tin at the bonfire site, so as not to attract enemy bombers. On several occasions over the years, there have been attempts to stop it. In the 1940s, a compromise was reached to have only a small fire; this was built as agreed, but shortly before it was lit, the locals brought round cartloads of coal and wood, piling them up into a huge fire, which was so big it burned for five days. In the early 1990s, a newcomer to the town complained to the authorities about the size of the fire. The local fire brigade, police and the organisers had a meeting, at which it was decided that the fire would go ahead as usual, but at 12:30am the fire brigade would hose it down to put it out.

This was duly done; then, after the fire brigade left, the locals brought out thirty gallons (135 litres) of diesel and re-lit it. The Loony Douk One of the more eccentric customs, the loony douk is held in South Queensferry, outside Edinburgh, on 1 January every year. A few brave lunatics take a short douk (Scots for 'dip') in the freezing cold waters of the Firth of Forth, hence the name. Burning of the Clavie This ceremony takes place in Burghead, a small village in Morayshire, on 11 January, which was the original date of Hogmanay prior to the change of the calendar in 1660. The Clavie is a half-barrel filled with wood shavings and tar; it is nailed to a carrying post, set alight and carried round the streets by the elected Clavie King. He and his assistants take it in turn to carry the Clavie round the streets, occasionally stopping at a house where a smouldering faggot is presented in the doorway to bring good luck for the year ahead.

The Clavie is then carried up to an old Roman fort on nearby Doorie Hill, where more fuel is added, resulting in a huge beacon, visible for miles around. Once the fire has died down enough to approach, those still around will collect flaming embers to kindle a New Year fire at home. City Parties Edinburgh is world-renowned for its Hogmanay celebrations. Glasgow and other cities also hold huge parties. All of them attract visitors from right round the world, keen to join in with the music, singing, dancing, fireworks and, most of all, the friendly atmosphere. Other cities round the country also hold festivities, albeit on a smaller scale. Edinburgh The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh hosts one of the biggest Hogmanay/New Year parties in the world, despite having a population of only 450,000. For many years there were parties throughout the city, with the biggest being a gathering at the Tron Church on the High Street. However, the first big, officially organised, street party in Edinburgh was held in 1992 after Edinburgh had hosted the 'Summit in the City' - the European Heads of State conference.

This Hogmanay festival was so successful that it gave birth to the annual huge party, now held primarily on and around Princes Street. The biggest party to date was in 1996/97, when around 300,000 people crammed into the city centre. In recent years the numbers have been cut, for safety reasons, by making the party a ticket-only event, but there are still well over 100,000 people on the streets of the city centre, plus more in Princes Street Gardens and on Edinburgh Castle esplanade, not counting all the residents of the area who watch and take part from their own homes. The total numbers taking part are still probably nearly 200,000. The festivities have, in recent years, begun a few days before Hogmanay. There is now a torchlit procession on 29 December, involving a replica viking warship being dragged from the Old Town, down Princes Street, then up to Calton hill, where fireworks are set off to complement the ship being torched, in a copy of Shetland's end-of-January Up-Helly-Aa viking festival.

On 30 December there is a warm-up party held in George Street, involving a huge ceilidh and pipe band parades. The main event is the Street Party on Hogmanay itself, held on and around Princes Street. It gets going at around 10pm and runs through until the last revellers go home sometime on 1 January. Midnight is signalled by the firing of the famous One O'Clock Gun 14 from the battlements of Edinburgh Castle. Then the fireworks display starts, lighting up the night sky for half an hour or so, while the city centre is alive with people hugging and kissing each other. For those who want something a little calmer, there is a Candlelit Concert in St. Giles Cathedral in the evening, before the bells. On Ne'er Day, there are some more events, such as the One O'Clock run - a one mile (1.6km) starting on the castle esplanade. Other Cities The famous rivalry between Scotland's two major cities continues in their Hogmanay celebrations. Glasgow's George Square plays host to a concert and party on Hogmanay which attracts around 20 - 30,000 people.

There are also a number of smaller concerts and club events round the city. Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness all hold street parties on Hogmanay, but perhaps the next biggest party after Edinburgh and Glasgow is in Stirling, where around 10,000 people can be expected around Stirling Castle. 1 Scots is a language related to English, Norse and other Germanic languages. 2 Such as the fertility rite of kissing someone under the mistletoe . 3 Gaelic is the language indigenous to the Scottish Highlands and Islands, though it is spoken by fewer than 100,000 people now. 4 Scottish dances, pronounced kay-lee. 5 A common mistake is to sing 'for the sake of auld lang syne' instead. 6 Auld lang syne translates literally as 'old long ago' but it's usually translated 'days gone by' or something similar. 7 First-footing also takes place in some parts of northern England. 8 After being invited over the threshold, that is; breaking and entering doesn't count. 9 Usually containing whisky , but as long as it contains something to drink, that'll be fine - just an empty bottle wouldn't be appreciated.

10 If he's not, have a child answer the door - he'll seem tall then. 11 Not first-feet. 12 Gate meaning 'street', from Old Norse. 13 Famous for its town sign 'London is big, but this is Biggar'. 14 So called because it fires at 1pm every day. What is Hogmanay? A guide to Scottish new year traditions, events and celebrations | Metro News What is Hogmanay? A guide to Scottish new year traditions, events and celebrations Gary Marshall for Metro.co.uk Wednesday 31 Dec 2014 8:00 am Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations begin with a massive torchlight parade. (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images) For most of the world December 31 is New Year’s Eve, but in Scotland it’s something much more important: Hogmanay. So what is it, and why does it make Aberdonians set fire to stuff? Hogmanay is a very big deal in Scotland. It’s the biggest day in the festive calendar, a celebration that makes Christmas Day seem very small indeed – and it’s like nothing else on Earth. What is Hogmanay?

Hogmanay is what the Scots call their New Year’s Eve celebrations. The origins of the word are unclear – some say it’s a corruption of the Greek words for ‘holy month’, others that it’s of French origin – but the celebrations themselves go back centuries. Where did Hogmanay come from? Hogmanay’s origins are viking. Norse invaders celebrated the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, with wild parties in late December. Those parties began to incorporate elements from the Gaelic Samhain winter festival, which celebrates the beginning of winter, and Yule, whose celebrations were known as ‘daft days’ in Scotland. Like many annual celebrations, the end result is a mix of its various influences. (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Why is it such a big deal? Because until very recently, Scots didn’t do Christmas. The party-loving Protestant Reformation effectively banned Christmas for 400 years, and Christmas Day didn’t even become a public holiday in Scotland until 1958 and Boxing Day didn’t become a holiday until 1974. So while the rest of the world celebrated Christmas, Scots toiled.

Their family get-togethers happened at Hogmanay instead. How is it different from other New Year’s Eve celebrations? It’s longer. Hogmanay starts on New Year’s Eve but continues throughout New Year’s Day and into January 2, which is a public holiday in Scotland. While the rest of the UK is generally getting back to work on the 2nd, Scotland looks like that bit at the beginning of 28 Days Later when the streets are deserted. How do Scots celebrate Hogmanay? Most Scots party, but they also observe a number of traditions. The most popular one is first-footing, where the first person to enter the house after midnight – ideally a tall, dark man – brings gifts such as food or coal. First-footing is supposed to affect the household’s fortunes for the coming year, so if your first visitor is a small blonde woman you’re stuffed. Other traditions include cleaning the house before Hogmanay arrives, watching terrible TV programmes before the bells chime and singing Robert Burns’ poem, Auld Lang Syne. That singing is accompanied by a mass linking of arms, and those arms are supposed to then cross each singer’s chest for the final verse.

While most people know the first verse, the lusty singing tends to tail off in the second as people realise they don’t know most of the words. Hogmanay in Edinburgh (Picture: Chris Watt) What about big events? Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is the biggie: it starts with a massive torchlit parade on the December 30, includes a huge fireworks display, has performances from musicians ranging from up-and-coming acts to pop stars and the odd superannuated rock group, and pulls a crowd from more than 60 different countries. Other Scottish cities have big parties too, but Edinburgh’s one is the biggest. In 1996, it attracted more than 400,000 people, although subsequent years have been restricted to smaller (but still big) crowds for safety reasons. Late December in Scotland. Isn’t that a terrible time to have an outdoor party? Yes. Severe weather stopped the parties in 2003 and 2006. This year’s forecast looks positively balmy by Hogmanay standards, though: it’s going to rain, but the rain shouldn’t be too cold. Are there any weird traditions around Hogmanay?

In Stonehaven near Aberdeen the locals make balls of chicken wire, paper and rags, set them on fire and swing them around. In South Queensferry, the ‘Loony Dook’ sees hungover Scots hurling themselves into the icy sea to raise money for charity. And in Kirkwall, the ‘Ba Game’ is an enormous game of street football that can last anything from four minutes to five hours and feature as many as 350 players. Loony Dook (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) How can I celebrate Hogmanay properly? There’s no right way or wrong way to celebrate Hogmanay, but if you want to do what many Scots do you’ll have a nice meal with family and/or friends, plenty to drink – including whisky, of course – to toast the new year, and a steak pie for dinner the following day when you finally emerge from your bed. Don’t forget a bottle of Irn Bru, too – Scots swear by it as a hangover cure.

Hogmanay: New Year's Eve, the Scottish Way Ancient Britain ï¿½ Castles ï¿½ Churches/Cathedrals ï¿½ Houses/Manors ï¿½ Museums ï¿½ Towns ï¿½ Countryside ï¿½ London ï¿½ History & Folklore ï¿½ Travel Tips Test daily news Hogmanay: New Year's Eve, the Scottish Way by Tori V. Martínez This New Year's Eve, as revelers everywhere awkwardly mumble and hum the mysterious verses of "Auld Lang Syne," most of them will be completely unaware of the historic and culturally significant celebration that not only launched the lyrically elusive song, but also perfectly embodies it -- Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year. Far from being just an unusual Scottish word for an otherwise standard way of bringing in the New Year, Hogmanay is an amalgam of ancient tradition and modern interpretation that offers both a quaint glimpse into the past and an unforgettable contemporary celebration. More notably, it has historically held a place few other cultural New Year's celebrations can claim -- that of the most important annual celebration in its country.

So important, in fact, that for more than 300 years, Hogmanay actually supplanted Christmas as the winter solstice holiday in Scotland. The exact origins of Hogmanay in Scotland are unknown, but it was probably introduced by invading Vikings between the 8th and 9th centuries. It's possible the word "Hogmanay" originated from the Scandinavian "Hoggo-nott," the word that described the feast before the mid-winter festival of Yule, but historians and linguists have more often attributed it to just about every other language. Various theories tie it to Anglo-Saxon, Gaelic, Old English, French, Old French, Norman French, Flemish, Spanish and even Greek. Possibilities include that the word was derived from Haleg Monath, an Anglo-Saxon term meaning "Holy Month," and the French phrase au gui mener,meaning"lead to the mistletoe." Whatever its origins and etymology, Hogmanay has managed to retain many of its unique traditions and still evolve to suit modern times, despite centuries of change and upheaval in Scotland.

This exceptional fusion may have been possible in part because both the old and new elements of Hogmanay seem to follow the superstitious, yet optimistic, Scottish belief that a prosperous and happy year will only occur if it begins with luck, joy and a break with the past. Accordingly, a traditional Hogmanay first involves a thorough housecleaning or "redding," removal of the ashes from the fireplace, and repayment of all debts -- all of which must be done before "the bells" at midnight on December 31st. It's questionable how many modern Scots actually follow these rather dreary tasks as part of Hogmanay, but there's little doubt that the purpose of each is as relevant today as it was in the past. With a clean house -- both literally and figuratively -- the celebrations can commence with a light heart and a clear conscience. Perhaps the best-known modern Hogmanay celebrations are the all-night street parties held in cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow, which routinely attract crowds of 100,000. But these are a modern innovation, only introduced as recently as the 1990s.

Smaller-scale local parties, balls, and dances known as ceilidhs all offer more traditional ways of celebrating Hogmanay throughout Scotland. Whether large or small, most modern Hogmanay celebrations typically feature live music, fireworks, parades and Highland dancing. Although most modern Hogmanay celebrations have long since abandoned some of the more unusual traditions of long-ago -- such as people dressing in cow hides and running through the village while being hit with sticks -- many aspects do echo the past. The most formal of the local parties may require men to wear traditional Highland dress, and the New Year is invariably ushered in by bagpipers, followed by traditional Scottish dancing until the wee hours of the morning. And the impressive firework displays, torchlight processions and bonfires of the modern street parties all represent or mimic the ancient traditions of the original Viking celebrations. In particular, the theme of fire in modern Hogmanay celebrations holds important historical significance and represents "burning the old year out." Some Scottish and far-northern English towns and villages still practice modernized forms of ancient pre-Christian fire ceremonies designed to ward off evil spirits and ensure a prosperous new year.

Near Aberdeen, in the town of Stonehaven, Hogmanay celebrations feature a High Street parade of well-trained locals swinging giant fireballs -- by some accounts weighing as much as 20 pounds -- attached to wire handles. In the Northumberland town of Allendale, New Year's Eve is still celebrated with a parade of individuals known as "guisers" carrying burning tar barrels on their heads. Other variations of Hogmanay fire ceremonies are practiced around Scotland, such as the Flambeaux Procession in Comrie and a giant bonfire in Biggar, with most attracting locals and visitors alike. As curious to outsiders as these revelries may sound, once the clock strikes midnight, Scots celebrate the coming of the New Year in much the same way as in other English-speaking countries -- with kisses, good wishes, celebratory noises and, of course, the singing of "Auld Lang Syne." The traditional song is actually a fairly modern addition to Hogmanay, although it was based on old Scottish ballads and poems that were adapted by Scottish poet Robert Burns. Put to music, Burns' version replaced "Good-night and joy be with you all" in the 18th century as the traditional Hogmanay song.

Burns himself thought the phrase "Auld Lang Syne" -- an Old Scots phrase meaning "days of long ago" or "times gone by" -- was "exceedingly expressive." Clearly, much of the rest of the world agreed. Almost as soon as "the bells" have stopped and the last verse of "Auld Lang Syne" is sung, Hogmanay stands apart once again with the tradition known as "first footing." Quite possibly a relic from the time of the Vikings, the tradition dictates that the luckiest Hogmanay revelers will receive a visit from a tall, dark and handsome man bearing gifts. Known as "first footers" because they are the first people to step across the threshold after the stroke of midnight, their appearance and what they carry varies in different parts of Scotland, but they always embody an important part of bringing good luck to the new year. Conversely, the wrong first footer can be considered bad luck, particularly women, fair-haired men and people with flat feet. It's said that the bias against blond men recalls the ancient fear of rampaging, fair-haired Vikings.

No matter how or where Hogmanay is celebrated in Scotland, the festivities don't end with the close of New Year's Day, known as "Ne'erday," but continue right through January 2nd. In fact, it's interesting to note that both January 1st and 2nd are public holidays in Scotland, while only January 1st is recognized in England. The extended Scottish holiday marks the historical importance of Hogmanay -- not Christmas -- as the traditional time for gift-giving and mid-winter, or solstice, celebrations. The transfer of holiday observance was due in large part to the Church of Scotland, which in the late 17th century deemed Christmas too "Popish," or Catholic, and discouraged its celebration. Hogmanay's pagan roots, national popularity and ideal timing made it the perfect alternative, and so it remained until the mid-20th century, when Christmas began making a comeback. Although these days Scotland appears to be fully re-indoctrinated in the Christmas tradition, Hogmanay still manages to rival Christmas in popularity and importance. Even as Hogmanay continues to evolve, it's this sense of timelessness and resilience that distinguishes it as a truly exceptional New Year's celebration.

And those who understand and appreciate the celebration know that the "exceedingly expressive" lyrics of "Auld Lang Syne" -- elusive as they may be -- seem like they were meant for Hogmanay alone. More Information: New Year & Hogmanay – Scranalogue New Year & Hogmanay December 28, 2015 by Scran | 0 comments The celebration of the New Year is one of the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago when the beginning of spring was the logical time to start a new year. The Babylonian new year celebration lasted for eleven days. The Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. But it wasn’t until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar that the months became synchronised with the seasons and the sun. The early Catholic Church condemned the festivities as paganism. But as Christianity became more widespread, the early church began aligning its own religious observances with many pagan celebrations. During the Middle Ages, the Church remained opposed to celebrating New Year.

However, it remained an important festival linked with mid-winter. Traditions Traditions of the season include the making of New Year’s resolutions which dates back to the early Babylonians. Using a baby to signify the new year was begun in Greece around 600 BC. They celebrated their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the god’s rebirth as the spirit of fertility. Luck in the New Year – traditionally, it was thought that one could affect luck throughout the coming year. For that reason, it become common to feast and make merry into the first moment of the new year – hence New Year’s Eve. This feast took place with family and friends. Scotland & New Year For many English speaking countries, Scotland has come to represent a focus for New Year with its own particular Hogmanay [New Year’s Eve] and New Year’s Day celebrations which weave pagan and winter themes together. In Scotland, for many years, the official winter holiday was New Year’s Day and not Christmas Day. Over the last fifty years, Christmas has become more equalised in regard.

There is a particular vocabulary to a Scottish New Year: Whisky is seen as an important part of the festival where one sips a dram [a measure of whisky] and proposes toasts to the New Year – maintaining the association with wishing a lucky year. First Footing is very important in Scotland. This is where the first person to set foot in your house, after the midnight bells chime, should bring luck. It is particularly lucky if that visitor happens to be a tall dark-haired man. First Footers have to be treated generously but also should show their own generosity. All-in-all, it’s a great excuse for a party into the wee sma’ hours [early hours of the next morning]. Gifts should be carried by the first footer. Traditionally, they are expected to carry at least aHawf or half bottle of whisky. You may be invited to “have a wee hawf” – to take a glass of whisky with the first footer. In fact, this is expected – and in return, the first footer will drink from your bottle.

First Footers used also to carry a lump of coal with them and this would be thrown on the fire with the wish that lang may yer lum reek [long may your chimney smoke]! One should also carry something to eat and, traditionally Black Bun – a rich cake full of currants and perhaps alcohol – was provided. Good Spirits & Fellow Feeling are expected. All those who meet after the bells are expected to wish each other a Guid New Year; and to shake hands and kiss if they know each other. First Footing Rules Hogmanay Festival in Scotland | By Scotland Channel City finder The Annual Hogmanay Festival The Hogmanay Festival is essentially a New Year celebration with a dash of Scottish flair. This festival takes place on the 31st of December every year and is phenomenally well supported and raucous. Hogmanay generally starts quite early in the evening, reaching its peak as expected at midnight with the ringing of bells, the singing of the old folk song "Auld Lang Syne" and plenty of good wishes, accompanied by kissing, being showered on all and sundry.

Depending on where you are in Scotland, activities for this festival may vary from folk song singing, dancing, torch light processions, the swinging of fireballs and a number of other activities, which are all combined with lots of laughter and fun for the whole evening and well into the next morning. This celebration dates back as far as the Vikings. Its roots are found in the pagan practice of fire and sun worship during the dark months of winter. Later this became the Roman celebration of 'Saturnalia' where the people celebrated without any inhibitions or restraint. The Vikings celebrated a variation of this festival and called it 'Yule' which later became the 12 days of Christmas or 'Daft Days'. The symbolism of fire at these festivals is quite profound and it stands for a number of things. Some view it as shining light on the unknown year to follow, putting light on a bright new horizon full of enlightenment. Although this festival is held in most Scottish cities , the largest groups of people will be found at the Edinburgh Hogmanay and Glasgow Hogmany where typically up to 100,000 tickets are sold. Tags:

Question: During which month of the year is Hogmanay celebrated?
Answer: December