Hogmanay: Scotland’s New Years Celebration

 

For the past few years I have been working to re-frame the traditional celebrations that were a part of my upbringing - questioning where they are from, and whether I want to continue celebrating them in the way I was told to. New Years is one such celebration; the turning of the Gregorian calendar and “New Years Resolutions/New Year New You” is such intense energy for the first month of winter. I find at this time of year I just want to turn inwards, rest, recalibrate, and dream, and I am much more inclined to follow the Astrological calendar, where the new year is re-set near the Spring Equinox in March and the coming of Aries season (which frankly feels like much better energy for setting resolutions and goals).

However, completely divesting from national (and international) holidays is rough, especially when everyone around you is fully invested in the cultural rituals we’ve all inherited. So, it always interests me to find a way that some of my ancestors may have celebrated a similar time of year in the past, and link it to the modern-day celebration. And that brings us to Scotland, and Hogmanay - the Scottish New Years festival celebrated on December 31st. 

Interestingly, Christmas was not traditionally celebrated in Scotland, and Hogmanay was the traditional winter festival. Christmas was actually outlawed by the church of Scotland for 400 years, and only became a public holiday in 1958!

The origins of Hogmanay harken back to Winter Solstice celebrations by the Vikings, who would hold wild parties around the darkest time of year. It’s recorded that in the 18th century, children out and about in Scotland on December 31st would visit homes and shout: “Hogmanay, Trollolay, Give us your white bread and none of your grey!”

And, this celebration is actually where we get Auld Lang Syne, a centuries-old Scottish folk song written down by Robert Burns in 1788 in an attempt to preserve the Scottish language after the forming of the UK in 1707. The title translates from Scots Gaelic to English as ‘Old Long Since,’ and the song is mainly about remembering the past.

Auld Lang Syne

 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp!
And surely I’ll be mine!
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 mony a weary fitt,
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 gude-willie-waught,
for auld lang syne.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and for old times’ sake?

For old times’ sake, my dear,
for old times’ sake,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for old times’ sake.

And surely you’ll buy your pint glass!
And surely I’ll buy mine!
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for old times’ sake.

We two have run about the hills,
and picked the daisies fine;
We’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since old times’ sake.

We two have paddled in the stream,
from the morning sun until dinner time;
But seas between us broad have roared
since old times’ sake.

And there’s a hand, my trusty friend!
And give us a hand of yours!
And we’ll take a good-will draught [sip],
for old times’ sake.

 

The traditional way to sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is in a circle, with hands joined. At the beginning of the last verse, everyone crosses their arms across their breast, so that the right hand reaches out to the neighbor on the left and vice versa. When the song ends, everyone rushes to the middle, while still holding hands.

Mr Punch goes First Footing in the New Year -- he and his dog Toby are just about to run up some snow-covered steps into a house where a family are waiting to welcome them. Date 1897 Mary Evans (via Fine Art America)

My favorite tradition from the Hogmanay celebration is the ‘first footing’ - the ‘first foot’ in the house after the stroke of midnight should be a dark-haired person, to ensure good luck for the coming year. This harkens back to the time of the Viking invasions, when fair-haired first footers were not particularly welcome. But if you are first footing, don’t come empty handed! That is considered especially unlucky as well as discourteous.

Traditional Hogmanay gifts include a lump of coal to be placed on the host’s fire, along with shortbread, a black bun, and whisky to toast to a ‘Guid New Year’. And a traditional Hogmanay meal is steak pie. It’s believed that eating any circular food is good luck on new years, and symbolizes ‘coming full circle.’ And, to ensure you didn’t throw out your luck:

“Nothing was allowed to be put out of the house this day, neither the ashes of the fire nor the sweepings of the house, nor dirty water, nor anything else, however useless or however much in the way”
— John Gregorson Campbell

So what do you think of the Scottish Hogmanay traditions? Would you incorporate any into your own New Years celebrations? I am personally looking forward to eating some circular foods, and memorizing the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne!

 
Gatherings, Living with the Seasons, RitualStephanie McKennaNew Years, Hogmanay, ScotlandComment