That’s the traditional Scots welcome on New Year’s Eve,
known as Hogmanay in Scotland. A time of celebration,drinking, and first
footing to see out the old year and welcome in the new year.
Some say the name, Hogmanay, has French roots, others say it
originated from the old Norse, and it seems the celebrations are a throwback to
that of the winter solstice among the
Norse, as well as customs from the Gaelic celebration of Samhain. However, I doubt that any of the revellers on Hogmanay
will be worrying about where the name or customs come from when they welcome in
the New Year.
Hogmanay has always been a big end of year celebration in
Scotland, with Christmas coming a poor second, although that is now changing.
However it wasn’t so long ago that Christmas was not a holiday in Scotland, the
influence of the protestant reformation was to blame for that. I can’t recall
exactly when Christmas became a holiday in Scotland but it was well into the
1950s. Before that many people exchanged their gifts and celebrated on the
winter solstice – Hogmanay.
Customs
There are several customs associated with Hogmanay. The
house has to be cleaned from top to bottom on Hogmany as it is considered
unlucky to welcome the New Year into a dirty house. The act of cleaning the
whole house was called the redding,
because it was getting ready for the new year.
Debts had to be paid by New Year’s Eve, as it was bad luck
to usher in a new year with an outstanding debt.
Any knitting has be completed before the old year passes,
failing that all the stitches should be removed from the needles.
It is unlucky for visitors to be admitted to the house
before midnight has struck on New Year’s Eve, and they are likely to be refused
admittance.
At midnight the man of the house opens the back door to let
the old year out, and then opens the front door to let the new year in.
It is common for people to gather in the town centre waiting
for midnight to strike, and on the first stroke of the chimes, known as The Bells, people link arms and sing Auld Lang Syne.
First footing starts immediately after midnight, on the last
stroke of the church bells, and signifies a celebration of the new year which
has just arrived. A first foot is the first person to cross the threshold of a
friend or neighbour, their first visitor of the year. He should be male, and
tall and dark. The first foot should present symbolic gifts to bring luck to
the householder. These gifts range from salt, coal, shortbread, whisky, and
black bun (a type of rich fruit cake). The householder then gives food and
drink to the guest and they may party on until early morning, or alternatively
the first foot will take his or her leave and visit a procession of houses. At
least that is the traditional way. Nowadays, first footing is done with a
bottle, and the first footer offers a dram (drink) from it to the householder,
and vice versa.
Many of these customs were prevalent for a long time, but progress has caught up and a lot of these old customs have fallen by the wayside. No longer is it possible to open your door to complete strangers and welcome them inside to give them their New Year dram. Television programmes ensure many people sit in comfort at their firesides instead of congregating at The Bells. In fact many people are reluctant to venture to the town centre for The Bells, as what used to be a good-natured, friendly gathering, has become significantly rowdier. At one time the drinking never started until midnight, in fact it was thought unlucky to open your bottle before The Bells started. Nowadays people start drinking much earlier in the day.
Official, organised celebrations have taken the place of
these informal gatherings. Events like Edinburgh’s torchlight procession, or
Stonehaven’s fireball swinging festival.
But however people celebrate the coming of the New Year, the
Scots will always let their hair down on Hogmanay.
So, until I see you after the New Year, lang may your lum reek, and a
guid New Year to ane an’ a’ and mony may ye see.
Chris Longmuir
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