No I’m not being rude… I just wanted to share a wee bit of Scotland with you on this New Year’s Eve.

This is a HUGE celebration in my homeland, lasting 3 to 5 days.

Did you know that for almost 400 years, celebrating Christmas was banned in Scotland? So the resourceful Scots simply shifted the day of their exuberant merrymaking to New Year’s, calling it Hogmanay. Now wasn’t that creative!

It became a major outlet for festivities, warmth and chasing away the winter darkness.

So if you want to bring a wee bit of Scottish tradition into your year-end celebrations here is what you must do.
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First up is “Redding the House” which was traditionally a major cleaning to get the house ready for the New Year.

When I was growing up my gran was adamant about also “redding” her life by paying all bills and taking care of unfinished business before “The Bells”.

The Bells is the first bell chime at midnight when everyone gathers to Bring in The Bells, and in many communities fireballs are swung or fireworks go off.

Immediately after The Bells is First Footing, when friends and neighbors pour into the streets to visit one another’s homes. I vividly remember this as a child, carrying tins of home-baked shortbread from one house to the next.

Other traditional symbolic First Footing gifts are black buns (fruit cake), bread or salt to represent nourishment, a piece of coal for warmth, a silver coin for prosperity, and of course a wee dram (small whisky) for good cheer.

Generally it’s good luck if the first person to step over the threshold is tall and dark-haired. Not so good luck if they are a redhead. But to be honest….any handsome young man is usually well received. And in some parts of the country it’s women who bring good luck…Go girlfriends!

The host offers everyone a drink (another wee dram), then it’s on to the next house.

Rinse and Repeat until good luck has been bestowed on all houses and their occupants… or everyone’s had so much whisky they no longer care 🙂

And of course no Scottish New Year’s would be complete without everyone linking arms for a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne penned by Rabbie Burns, Scotland’s favorite poet. (Next to Happy Birthday, this Scottish song is the most sung song in the world!)

So that’s a wee bit about how we celebrate New Year’s in Scotland and some of my childhood traditions.

What about you? I’d love to hear about your traditions. Comment below and let me know.

So now I’m off to finish Redding the House…

Lang may yer lum reek

Liz

PS the literal translation means “Long may your chimney smoke”… Or may you never be without fuel for your fire. In Scotland it’s used to wish someone a long and healthy life. And that is what I wish for you….