Hogmanay

A Scottish tradition.
 What is hogmanay?
• Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of the last day of the year (New Year’s Eve).
While most countries only celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, in
Scotland; Hogmanay lasts into 2nd January as a national Bank Holiday. This extra
holiday is much needed after the festivities of Hogmanay!
 Origin of hogmanay.
• The origins of Hogmanay being such a big celebration are often thought to originate from the Winter
Solstice celebrations from the Norse and Yule celebrations of the Vikings. Hogmanay became such a big
celebration for Scots because Christmas wasn’t celebrated for hundreds of years due to the Protestant
Reformation which proclaimed Christmas to be a ‘Catholic feast’. Because of this, most Scots worked
and carried on as normal over the Christmas period and instead got together for presents and festivities to
welcome in the new year.
 How is hogmanay celebrated?
• Saining the house
• The ritual involves the drinking of water believed to be magic – this is sourced from a river ford that’s said to be
crossed by both the living and the dead.
• Fire at Hogmanay
• Fire also plays a role in Hogmanay customs, and is thought to derive from the pagan traditions of the pre-Christian
Celts.The annual Torchlight Procession pays homage to this history, with thousands marching through the city centre
carrying blazing torches.
• First-footing for friends and family
• The moment the clock strikes midnight, lads and lassies across Scotland start heading for the homes of loved ones to be
the first-footer – the first person to cross the threshold of the home in the new year. Custom says that the first-footer
sets the precedent for the new year, and is always welcomed with traditional Scottish hospitality – a wee dram of
whisky.