Hogmanay

Subject: Hogmanay
From: Mugwump
Date: 01 Jan 03 - 04:33 AM

What's the origin of Hogmanay? Is it just another invention in the whole plethora of Scottish pseudo culture?

Subject: RE: Hogmanay
From: dwditty
Date: 01 Jan 03 - 11:12 AM

First foot, too, with a limp of coal here.

Subject: RE: Hogmanay
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 01 Jan 03 - 02:16 PM

It isn't just a Scottish thing; as Hagmana it was also celebrated in the North of England. See this discussion from two years back: HOGMANAY.

Subject: RE: Hogmanay
From: Abby Sale
Date: 02 Jan 03 - 12:10 PM

Not sure about now - the thing's like gone commercial with the rest of the World Ecumen. But I hope not.

Used ter was (at least until the mid 70's I know of) that Hogmanay included the grandest of Scottish customs - getting drunk and visiting your friends. Along with several books worth of subsidiary customs.

"First footing" (your first visit to a friend's in the new year) was common and being the real First Foot, ie, the first person of all to visit, was still extra special. All FFs would, of course be offered a scotch but the actual FF might have two forced on him.

Or on her, these days, but the wifey should really be at home to welcome the FFs coming there. Thus the real problem - you had to be out driving to your friends' to be their FF all the while being at home to welcome them to FF you.   Imagine the Three Stooges in bumper cars....

You could theoretically FF even in May although the novelty wore pretty thin by then. Still, who could object to just a wee tot in celebration?

Several people brought us a lump of coal. A fine gesture (obviously a bit of sympathetic magic to ensure warmth & therefore prosperity in the next year) although that custom was already dying out. I don't recall any other offerings but as Malcolm implies (in the other thread) the important part was the mid-winter, "renewal" festival to ensure the return of the sun and fertility. Much against Scotland's extreme reluctance to practice the newfangled upstart festival of Christmas, by the mid 60's Christmas had largely replaced Hogmanay in its pagan practices aspects (lights & gifts, etc.)

I regularly sing THE DAY WE WENT TO ROTHESAY, O at this season. Note the song dates itself as "One Hogmanay" not as 'one New Year' or 'one December' or such. So the term was common enough then. I think this might also be to indicate drink was expected to be taken.

I don't know what time the revellers would have arrived at Rothsay but the notion is correct that by mid-afternoon they'd have done everything in town there was to do except get drunk and/or fight.

But as for today, Happy Ancester's Day! (you know - in Haiti.)

Subject: RE: Hogmanay
From: Mugwump
Date: 02 Jan 03 - 12:30 PM

Yes! I spotted Ancestors Day on the FUTURAMA 2003 calender about 30 minutes before looking at this!

Subject: RE: Hogmanay
From: Abby Sale
Date: 02 Jan 03 - 05:56 PM

:-) Well then, Charles, we'll have to delve into the "happy?" file and come up with something else for today. Won't do for me to be half-hour behind the Simpsons...

How about this?

Sam Pepys' diary entry for 1/2/1666:
"In perfect pleasure I was to hear her [the actress, Mrs. Knipp] sing, and especially her little Scotch song of Barbary Allen."

(per Child, Lomax/FSNA & Chappel/Roxburghe)

Subject: RE: Hogmanay
From: GUEST,Mac Tattie
Date: 02 Jan 03 - 06:37 PM

Abby Sale, sorry to disapoint you but not every one from Scotland drinks to excess. As for your favorite song, well, the song dates it's self as "wan Hogmanay et the Glesca' Fair". The "Glesca'" or Glasgow Fair generaly falls between the end of June/beginning of July, about as far away as you can get from the 31st. of December. "The Day We Went Tae Rothsay-o" is a Music-hall song from the end of eighteen hundreds. Which is old but not that old. New year celebrations still go on, I returned home just before six on newyear's morning, hoarse, from singing but none the worse for drink. The seceret, as all experienced n'erday revelers will tell you, is, "sandwitches". cheers.

Subject: RE: Hogmanay
From: Mudlark
Date: 02 Jan 03 - 07:31 PM

I'm willing to drink good scotch at just about any celebration going, but if another is needed this is Feast Day of St. Macarius, 4th c. patron of chefs and confectioners--who became a vegetarian in the desert. 19th c. Eng. doc too a dim view of this practice, however, claiming it "harmless enough, altho apt to fill a man with wind and self-righteousness."

Subject: RE: Hogmanay
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 05:09 PM

If you've ever come across anything that died in the desert you'd become vegetarian too. Unless you're a fan of jerky! ;o)