Hogmanay - A Christmas Tradition?

Today, I'm thinking about New Year's Eve and how that fits into the 12 Days of Christmas.

There doesn't seem to be much evidence to think that it's ever been a huge festival in England but in Scotland, now that's a different matter!

Jamie's father and my mother were both Scots, born and bred, his family from the Lowlands and mine, the Highlands, so we have an inbuilt desire to celebrate New Year somehow, though, since having the children, our frolicking has been more muted than when we were footloose and fancy-free.

I've also been thinking about this as I read the observations of a missionary, recently transplanted to Scotland. He was appalled at how seriously HUGE Hogmanay is in Scotland. He lambasted the Scots for celebrating New Year's Eve much more than Christmas, which pales into insignificance there by comparison. This, he ranted, was proof of the paganism of the Scots. Mmmm...well, History tells us a different story. Come with me, if you will, into the history of Christmas and New Year in Scotland.

Christmas was virtually banned in Scotland for around 400 years, from the end of the 17th century to the 1950s. The reason for this has its roots in the Protestant Reformation when the Kirk (Church) portrayed Christmas as a Popish or Catholic feast and therefore had to be banned. Many Scots had to work over Christmas and their main winter holiday was therefore at New Year when family and friends gathered for a party, and to exchange presents, especially for the children, which came to be called Hogmanay. It isn't really surprising that, when deprived of Christmas, the Scots threw all their need for merry-making into New Year's Eve instead.

There are apparently traditions before midnight such as cleaning the house on 31st December, including taking out the ashes from the fire in the days when coal fires were common. But I don't remember my family doing this, even though we always had a coal fire. There is also the superstition to clear all your debts, between neighbours and friends, before "the bells" at midnight.

Immediately after midnight, now after the 12th stroke of Big Ben, it is traditional to sing Robert Burns' "For Auld Lang Syne". (For old times' sake?) Burns claimed it was based on an earlier fragment and certainly the tune was in print over 80 years before he published his version in 1788.
"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 take a cup o kindness yet, for auld lang syne."

Wherever we've been in the world at midnight, Auld Lang Syne seems to be traditional, so I guess this aspect of New Year's Eve celebration has been exported to wherever the Scots have settled.

An integral part of the Hogmanay partying, is to welcome friends and strangers, with warm hospitality and of course, a kiss to wish everyone a Guid New Year. The underlying idea being to clear out the vestiges of the old year, have a clean break and welcome in a young, New Year on a happy note.

Jamie's family practiced "First footing" (that is, the "first foot" in the house after midnight) and it is still common in Scotland. To ensure good luck for the house, the first foot should be male, dark (believed to be a throwback to the Viking days when blond strangers arriving on your doorstep meant trouble) and should traditionally bring highly symbolic coal, shortbread, salt, black bun (a cake)and whisky. These days, however, whisky and perhaps shortbread are the only items still prevalent (and available).

Jamie was always in great demand as a First Footer, being tall and dark! We used to take a piece of coal wrapped in a paper napkin and tied with tartan ribbon, and some home-made shortbread wrapped in a doily and decorated with a sprig of holly. Whilst we lived in Canada it was hard to find the coal! And the holly! Though one year I managed to find a store which imported the holly. (It didn't seem to grow in Ontario!)

I have very happy memories of New Year's Eve being part of the series of Christmas celebrations, but in recent years, all our friends have children tucked up in bed and no one to greet the New Year with or to First Foot! It would be lovely to revive this family, and national, tradition, somehow this year! And I could add it to the list of revived '12 Days of Christmas' feasts and celebrations we are going for this year. What does your family do on New Year's Eve?