Hogmanay, the celebration of bringing in the New Year, is not the only traditional festival in Scotland. Many national and local celebrations took place in the past and some survive to this day. Here is a selection, with links to other sites, where available, for more detailed information. We start on 1 January and finish on the major celebration on the Scottish calendar - Hogmanay on 31 December. First footing - 1st January (news.nationalgeographic/news/2002/12/1230_021231_hogmanay.html) Visiting friends and relatives immediately after New Years Eve, in the early hours of the morning of January 1st. First footing after the bells have rung in the New Year is still common - the first foot in the house after midnight should be male, dark, and handsome and should carry symbolic coal, shortbread, salt, black bun ( a spiced cake) and, of course, whisky. In Kirkwall, Orkney, there is a New Year Ba(bagame/) Game held in the streets of the town which can last most of January 1st, between the Uppies and the Doonies, or more correctly, Up-the-Gates and Doon-the-Gates from Old Norse gata (path or road). Near the Forth Rail Bridge at South Quuensferry on the morning of 1 January, around a 1,000 brave souls plunge into the icy waters of the river Forth in the Loony Dook . Many thousands of pounds have been raised for a variety of charities asa a result of this event which has been running now since 1986. A.M
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 04:19:44 +0000
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