The English have always made a bigger fuss of Christmas than of New Year, but for those born 'over the border' in Scotland, it is a different matter. New Year, or Hogmanay as it is called in Scotland, is often the bigger celebration of the 2, and surrounded with it's own traditions and mysteries. Although many of the traditions have died off throughout most of Scotland, there are still a few places that keep to the old ways, and celebrate Hogmanay much as their ancestors did!
Although it is now impossible to be certain why it is called Hogmanay, there are a few possibilities:
Haleg Monath - Anglo-Saxon for Holy Month
Hoguinane - Old French for gift
Hoog Min Dag - Flemish for High (or great), Love (or affection) Day
Oge Maidne - Gaelic for New Morning
Other people believe it could be from Hog Money, an explanation as to why Scots are so parsimonious perhaps?, or Hug Many, which explains why some young ladies try to do exactly that at the end of one year and the beginning of the next. For myself, I prefer to think that it is from the Gaelic Oge Maidne, as it is a typically Scottish celebration.
History:Although Hogmanay is now celebrated on Jan 1st, before 1600 New Year officially started in Scotland on March 25th. In 1599, James VI, King of the Scots, and his privy council decided to bring Scotland in line with other countries.
"The Kingis majestie and Lordis of his Secreit Counsall undirstanding that in all utheris weill governit commouns welthis and cuntreyis the first day of the yeir begynis yeirlie upoun the first day of Januare, commounlie callit new yeiris day, and that this realme onlie is different fra all utheris in the compt and reckning of the yeiris .... his Majestie with the advise of the Lordis of his Secreit Counsall statutis and ordanis that in all tyme cuming the first day of the yeir sal begin yeirlie upoun the first day of Januare ..." from the Register of the Privy Council, 17 December 1599
Traditions:The most commonly known tradition associated with Hogmanay is that of First Footing. This is where a tall, dark stranger appears at your door with a lump of coal, also many bring bread, salt, and/or a coin. Coal is always brought, though. These signify, warmth, food, health and wealth in that order. Although it is not considered too important for the First-Footer to be either tall or handsome, dark is a definite pre-requisite. This hearkens back to the days of the Vikings, when a Blonde person at your door was a sign that you were in some real trouble!!
The burning of the Clavie, and other Fire Festivals are celebrated in many areas of Scotland. For the burning of the Clavie, a barrel is cut in half, filled with tar and faggots and carried around on a pole. Burning bits of wood are tossed into doorways where they are grabbed by celebrating householders and kept, for they bring good-fortune for the coming year. There are many similar festivals held in other areas, in the Shetlands the Fire Festival is known as "up helly aa", there are many different things going on over a period of time, culminating in the burning of a full-sized replica of a Viking long boat.
Sweeping out the ashes of the fire is important because it enables you to examine the Hearth for footprints. A footprint going away from the Hearth signifies a death, where a footprint going towards the Hearth means that there is sure to be an addition to the family in the coming year. If the fire itself burns bright on the New Year's morning, then there will be wealth for the coming year, but if a coal rolls out of the grate then one of the family will be leaving home.
Shortly after New Year, January 18th to be exact, there is another fine tradition, the opening of Haggis Hunting Season. Of course, it isn't that easy to get a license, and this you must have. In order to get your license you must be a kilt-wearing Highlander, able to play the correct notes on your bag-pipes (only certain notes work), and the only time you can get your license is at Hogmanay itself! Not many kilted Highlanders are in a fit state to remember to get their license!! Because so few Haggis are actually captured, there is now a recipe for synthetic Haggis which tastes similar to the real thing, and keeps the Highlanders (and Lowlanders as well) happy and able to hold up their heads!
Rhymes and Songs:
Nae mair wull A get yir caurrie-haundit
skrievins i the post ;
Nae mair wull ye gie yir carefu, mizzured
answer oan the phone ;
Nae mair wull we tryst at Alexander's Bleck Stane
fir ti mynd o Scotland's 'Gowden Age';
Nae mair wull we tryst fir ti stravaig, blether
an hae a braw ploy thegither ;
Nae mair, fir nou ye hae jynt the hale clamjamfrie
o MacCallums wha hae gaen afore;
Bit nou, whan A raise a gless ilka Hogmanay
ti 'Absent Friens' - ye wull be thare
fir ye war the stern's licht.
by Peter D Wright, 21 November 2002
Oh, dear me, my Granny caught a flea.
She sa'ted and pepper'd it
And had it for her tea.
My Granny didna like it,
She gave it to her son.
Her son didna like it -
He threw it up the lum.
The hoose gave a shak,
The lum gave a crak,
And doon came Granny
Wi' her shirt a' black
Anonymous
Hogmanay rhymes (as follow) themselves, are from Druid days. There are many of these and I am just giving you a couple so that you get the feel.
Great good luck to the house,
Good luck to the family,
Good luck to every rafter in it,
And to every worldly thing in it.
Good luck to horses and cattle,
Good luck to the sheep,
Good luck to everything,
And good luck to all your means.
Luck to the good-wife,
Good luck to the children,
Great fortune and health to all.
Anonymous
Tonight is the hard night of Hogmanay,
I have come with a lamb to sell -
The old fellow yonder sternly said
He would strike my ear against a rock.
The woman, better of speech, said
That I should be let in;
For my food and my drink,
A morsel due and something with it.
Anonymous
Food and drink:After much though, I have decided not to put in actual recipes, as it would take up too much room, but I found most of the recipes in the Electric Scotland web-site, and the address is given below for those who are interested!
Food: Black Bun (This is the traditional Hogmanay cake, it must be kept for at least 10 days, and preferably for up to 10 weeks before being eaten).
Shortbread.
Treacle Scones.
Oven Scones.
Scotland's Girdle Scones (or Griddle if you're American).
Charlotte's Granny Scones.
Drink: Scotland's Athol Brose
Drambuie
Het pint
Uisge Beatha
Song:Auld Lang Syne - I decided I would copy out Auld Lang Syne in it's entirety as few people know the whole thing, and Robert Burns deserves better than to be mangled!
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!
And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!
We twa hae run about the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.
And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
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