Hogmanay

Hogmanay Street Party 2002

Scottish New Year

Scotland is well-known for its New Year Eve?s celebrations.  There is a magical firework display and torchlight procession in Edinburgh and throughout many cities in Scotland.  The Scots have a long heritage associated with the New Year which is known as Hogmanay.

Hogmanay Customs

The theme that dominates all the traditions and customs surrounding Hogmanay is that the new year must begin on a happy note, with a clean break from all that may have been bad in the previous year.

Houses are cleaned in preparation for New Year as a purification ritual.  After sunset, juniper branches are collected and burnt.  They are carried throughout the house to purify the home.  Windows are opened to let out the old year and let in the new year.
 
Bonfires are lit to ward off evil spirits and to get rid of the old year.  Sometimes a straw figure known as ?the Auld Wife? which represents the old year would be thrown on the bonfire.

On New Year?s Eve everyone links arms and sings the traditional new year song ?Auld Lang Syne?  (see below)

First footing - This is a time when relatives and friends come to visit the home.  To bring good luck, the first person to come to the door in the New Year should be a dark-haired man (or fair-haired depending on the area).  He should bring a small gift such as a piece of coal, bread, salt, whisky which are symbols of life. This will ensure prosperity in the New Year.

Food - Haggis, shortbread, scones, oatmeal cakes, cheese  and traditional new year black buns are eaten  at New Year.

Drink - Whisky is the usual drink to toast in the New Year.   

The world-famous Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party for 2003 was affected by severe weather which led to the cancellation of the outdoor concert and the fireworks display.  You can find details of the 2002 event (and many other links to Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland) from the following web address:-

http://www.rampantscotland.com/features/bldev_edin_hogmanay2.htm 

You can find out more about Scottish humour at the foot of this site in the second column from the left under "Humour".

 
Auld Lang Syne

Scottish words meaning: "good old days", or "time remembered with fondness."

Verse
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of Auld Lang Syne.

Chorus
For Auld Lang Syne, my dear,
For Auld Lang Syne,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For Auld Lang Syne.

Verse
And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
And we'll tak' a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.

(Repeat chorus)

Auld Lang Syne - the poem by Robert Burns (Scotland's National Bard)

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 tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin' auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidled 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,
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

Festive Pipers	Concert Venue below a floodlit Edinburgh Castle
Fireworks welcome in the New Year	New Year's Day antics to get rid of the hangovers!