Home > Uniquely Unspoilt Magazine > Issue 24 > Hogmanay
~~ Hogmanay ~~
From taking your neighbours a bottle of whisky after midnight to joining the world's biggest street party in Edinburgh, Scotland offers a wide range of ways to celebrate New Year.
Origins
There are various possibilities as to the origins of the word Hogmanay itself, including the Gaelic 'oge maiden' meaning new morning, the Flemish 'hoog min dag', or great love day, and even the French 'anguillanneuf', which translates as gift at New Year.
The celebration of Hogmanay dates back to pagan rituals based around the winter solstice, and when John Knox banned the celebration of Christmas in Scotland, the start of the new year became the chance for Scots to really let their hair down.
Traditions and this year's celebrations
The ritual of First Footing is still an integral part of the Hogmanay celebrations, and traditionally a tall, dark-haired man greets his neighbours after the strike of midnight by bearing a gift that will bring them good luck. A bottle of whisky is a popular choice, but other possibilities include a lump of coal, or a fruit cake with a pastry crust, known as a black bun.
Fire is also central to Hogmanay celebrations, and is said to symbolise a purifying force to drive away evil spirits. The Biggar Bonfire in the Borders dates back to pagan times, and the tradition has been kept alive for hundreds of years. Even during the wars, a candle was burnt in a tin at the bonfire site to avoid attracting enemy bombers.
There is also the Flambeaux Procession in the small Perthshire village of Comrie, when on the stroke of midnight on Hogmanay, eight flambeaux or fiery torches begin the procession around the village before being ceremoniously thrown in the River Earn.
Further north, near Aberdeen, the Stonehaven Fireball Festival sees local people making their way along the old town High Street swinging fireballs to ward off the darkness of winter and welcome in the new year.
Theories about the festival's roots vary, but some people say that at one point during the Dark Ages a shooting star appeared above what is now Stonehaven, and subsequently locals experienced bumper crops.
Other Hogmanay traditions are the singing of Auld Lang Syne, and ceilidhs, both of which will be part of the extensive Edinburgh and Glasgow festivities.
Celebrations for Edinburgh's Hogmanay include a Ceilidh in the Gardens in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle with Capercaillie performing, as well as the world's greatest New Year party on Princes Street, a traditional torchlit procession on December 29th, street performers, fireworks, concerts and more.
Glasgow's Hogmanay takes place in George Square and around the city with 25,000 revellers, a range of concerts and ceilidhs on several stages around the city centre.
The aftermath
Although many people will wake up on January 1st feeling a little worse for wear, the festivities don't end there. A growing number of souls are taking part in the Loony Dook in South Queensferry, a swim in the chilly waters of the Firth of Forth. Fancy dress is welcome, wetsuits are banned, and all money collected goes to local charities.
Up in Orkney and described as 'the ultimate hangover cure', the Spot the Ba' competition in Kirkwall sees a leather ball being thrown to the crowd gathered at the Mercat Cross on the Kirk Green at 1pm exactly when the Cathedral bells chime, and over 200 players can play for hours before the winner is decided.
The following holiday cottages are relevant to this article:
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