Posted by Maris on 2nd Jan 2024
Discover the Traditions of Hogmanay - Scottish New Year
It's Hogmanay, and as all of you lovely visitors to Scotland are aware, we Scots love a good party. Hogmanay, or New Year's Eve on December 31st, is arguably the most fabled celebration of the start of a new year worldwide.
From Skye to John O'Groats, from Elgin to Edinburgh, Scots will be raising a glass to ring in the New Year in style, saying goodbye to the old and hello to the new.
Take a look at these six Scottish New Year's traditions and rituals as they "bring in the bells."
“Redding the House” for the New Year
When I was ten years old, the idea of staying up until midnight felt fantastic, and I always looked forward to it. I remember being a child growing up and anticipating being permitted to stay up late for the bells. However, my siblings and I would need to prepare the house in order to receive approval. Think of it as an even more laborious spring clean.
Why would someone require spotless cupboard doors and frames? It's not like the celebration was hidden in a cabinet, and when was the last time you received praise for a gleaming piece of wood that surrounded your door? However, being Scottish, celebrating Burns night with the "redding of the house" was just as customary as sipping whisky and consuming haggis.
Tradition dictated that this was a chore that needed to be completed, particularly clearing the fire's old ashes. The entire idea behind this was to ensure that you begin the year with a clean slate, organized home, and preparedness for the upcoming year.
Even though I don't still have parties in my cabinets, I still make sure they're organized and prepared in case.
The Fire of New Year's
As you may have learned from some of our tales, if you have traveled to Scotland, the Vikings had a significant influence on the country's development. A number of their habits and traditions have persisted to this day, having affected the people of Scotland. The Vikings were passionate with fire, and long before Christianity emerged, they would use it to drive out evil spirits and "burn the old year out."
Celebrated for more than a century, Stonehaven, a town south of Aberdeen, hosts one of the most spectacular fire Hogmanay festivities. A piper leads a group of courageous men and women who swing fireballs above their heads during the Fireball Parade.
This magnificent Hogmanay celebration is not for the timid and is performed as a purification rite to drive out any evil spirits from the past year so that the New Year can begin with a positive outlook.
Auld Lang Syne singing to "bring in the Bells"
“Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and Auld Lang Syne?”
What a fantastic song! The singing of Auld Lang Syne is a Scottish custom that has made its way around the globe, becoming ingrained in the lives of people from places as far away as New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and Canada.
Auld Lang Syne, written by Scotland's most well-known poet, Robert Burns, is a perfect song to start the New Year because it revolves around introspection, giving thanks for the previous year and looking forward to the one ahead. Burns based the song on an old folk ballad.
Click through to our blog post honoring Robert Burns and the tradition of hosting a Burns Night Supper or dinner on January 25th to learn more about this annual celebration of Scottish poetry and bard, often known as Rabbie Burns.
You may also wonder why, on New Year's Eve, we now sing this classic Scottish song everywhere. That is probably because a large number of Scots left the country to seek their fortune abroad, mostly as a result of the Highland clearances. They brought this beautiful song with them when they finally left. Combine this with the fact that American listeners have enjoyed Auld Lang Syne ever since Guy Lombardo, a Canadian of Italian heritage, and his band sang it live on National Radio in 1929, inspiring millions of people to sing along with the tune every New Year's Eve.
So, at your New Year's celebration, put on your best or worst singing voice and lead the group in a sing-along of Auld Lang Syne.
First Footing on Hogmanay
It was always a nice feeling to arrive at a friend's house with a bottle of whisky to share and perhaps make someone smile by being the first person inside on New Year's Day. I always loved attempting to be the first footer after the bells.
The tradition of being the first footer is centuries old. It states that you should always bring a gift. Traditionally, gifts meant to symbolize health, wealth, and a full stomach for the coming year would be coal, black bun cake, Scottish Shortbread biscuits, or salt. It used to be customary in the city of Dundee to celebrate New Year's by bringing a preserved herring fish while wearing a paper bonnet and skirt.
It's also traditional for the first person inside to be served a drink. Traditionally, this has meant whisky, but these days, it could equally mean beer, cider, or vodka—what matters is the gesture. After that, you would say "Slainte!" to celebrate the next year! - Well-being
Scottish New Year's Dinner Tradition
I imagine that when I take guests on tours of Scotland, they're wondering, "John, is it New Year's Day again?" My favorite meal is also the one that we Scots customarily enjoy on the first supper of the New Year! We go to a lot of amazing restaurants across the nation!
It is a dish that is so delicious that I still find it hard to believe it hasn't gained international renown!
Mashed potatoes and veggies, steak pie! Simply Amazing! What more could be said? There are chunks of tender beef in a delectable gravy, crispy puff pastry, buttery mashed potatoes, or substantial chips and nutritious vegetables! I strongly advise having steak pie for dinner to start the New Year, if you haven't already.
It's unclear exactly when people in Scotland began eating steak pie for dinner on New Year's Day, but one of the most widely accepted theories holds that it was because going to the butcher for a steak pie was a convenient option for those who were too busy to prepare a large meal on the day because they still had to work. Despite the fact that eating steak pie for New Year's was a deeply embedded custom in Scottish society, the country did not officially recognize January 1st as a holiday until 1871. Without it, I'm sure I couldn't begin my new year.
Tradition of an Extra Holiday Day
As previously indicated, the Scots take great pleasure in celebrating Hogmanay and the start of the New Year. As a result, on January 2nd, the people of Scotland were allowed an extra day off from work to prevent everyone from arriving at work with a pounding headache from drinking too much whisky.
This, I tell you, is truly a blessing because I know that the second of January will be required for the Hogmanay festivities I'll be having with my family and friends.