Hogmanay. traditions. Happy New Year!

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2 traditions Hogmanay Happy New Year! As the Scots prepare to usher in the beginning of another year with some of the world s biggest parties, Jo Leevers looks at the history of Hogmanay in Edinburgh and beyond

Nobody celebrates the arrival of the New Year quite like the Scots. After all, being the proud custodians of a host of fine traditions, they ve had plenty of practice.

But how did the turning of one year into the next become such an important date in the nation s calendar, and where is the best place to join them celebrating in true Scottish style?

3 Nobody celebrates the arrival of the New Year quite like the Scots. After all, being the proud custodians of a host of fine traditions, they ve had plenty of practice. They even have their own word for it: Hogmanay. But how did the turning of one year into the next become such an important date in the nation s calendar, and where is the best place to join them celebrating in true Scottish style? Marking the depths of winter and the longest day of the year with some kind of festival is entrenched in most European cultures, dating from pagan times, but some of the traditions of hogmanay can also be traced back to the Viking festivals brought to Scottish shores in the 8th and 9th centuries. These Norsemen celebrated the winter solstice by feasting on wild boar (an offering to Frey, the god of fertility and growth), burning a giant sunwheel (to encourage the sun to return) and festooning evergreen trees with small decorations, such as carved runes and pieces of food, to entice the tree spirits back in the springtime. They called their winter festival Yule and in Shetland, where the Viking invaders held their strongest sway, some locals still refer to the new year as Yules. The enthusiasm with which the Scots celebrate Hogmanay is also due to the historical influence of the church. South of the border, the centuries after the Reformation saw the now familiar traditions of Christmas slowly build up (most notably during the Victorian era), but the Reformation in Scotland had a longer-lasting influence. Celebrating Christmas was frowned upon well into the early 20th century in some areas, being seen as a sign of Catholicism. When it was celebrated, Christmas was more likely to be a quiet family affair, and any exuberant celebrations were saved up for Hogmanay a week later. The origin of the word Hogmanay is keenly disputed, but most likely harks back to the French phrases hoguinané (a new year s gift) or homme est né (man is born). However, it could also derive from the Gaelic og maidne (new morning), the Flemish hoog min dag (day of great love) or the Anglo-Saxon haleg monath (holy month). Whatever its source, by 1692 the word was part of Scottish parlance and is mentioned, albeit with some disapproval, in Presbyterian church records. They explain: It is ordinary among some plebeians in the south of Scotland to go about from door to door upon New Year s Eve, crying Hagmane. Over 300 years later, it s a fair bet that revellers roaming around Edinburgh in the wee hours of 1 January 2010 will be acting in broadly similar ways to their plebeian forefathers. For Edinburgh is at the heart of Scotland s New Year s Eve Clockwise from top left: revellers take to Edinburgh s Princes Street in freezing temperatures; seeing in the new year at Skibo Castle in the Highlands; the torchlit procession ends with the burning of a wicker bull; ceilidh Scottish dancers PHOTOLIBRARY, ALAMY, GETTY 38 Heritage January 2010 heritagemagazine.co.uk

traditions Hogmanay The flaming torches and fireworks that are intrinsic to Edinburgh s Hogmanay celebrations hark back to the festival s Viking and pagan roots celebrations, drawing crowds to mark

Torches and fireworks This year Edinburgh kicks off its worldrenowned Hogmanay celebrations on Tuesday 29 December with the Torchlight Procession from Parliament Square to Calton Hill.

4 traditions Hogmanay The flaming torches and fireworks that are intrinsic to Edinburgh s Hogmanay celebrations hark back to the festival s Viking and pagan roots celebrations, drawing crowds to mark the country s longstanding traditions and ensure their continued survival for future generations. Torches and fireworks This year Edinburgh kicks off its worldrenowned Hogmanay celebrations on Tuesday 29 December with the Torchlight Procession from Parliament Square to Calton Hill. Everyone gathers at St Giles Cathedral at around 6pm to walk down the Mound to Calton Hill at 6.30pm. This event is free and anyone can come along to follow the torchbearers, who buy a flaming torch in aid of charity. In recent years, the procession has culminated with setting light to giant effigies and models, a son et lumiére display and a firework finale on Calton Hill. The flaming torches and fireworks that are intrinsic to Edinburgh s Hogmanay celebrations hark back to the festival s Viking and pagan roots, when fire was seen as a powerful way to banish the evil spirits that could lurk in the long, dark days. Fire also symbolised the power of the sun, and its eagerly anticipated return once the worst of winter was over. Dance and song Edinburgh s citizens and visitors alike continue the Hogmanay warm-up on 30 December with the Night Afore event on George Street, which promises an evening of merrymaking including music, dance and street theatre with a strong Scottish flavour. This is a gentler, more family-friendly event than the main concerts on New Year s Eve, so is perfect for lower-key revellers. Again, it s free with no tickets needed a testament to the Hogmanay spirit of welcoming strangers and friends, letting go of any old grudges and beginning the new year with a clean slate. On New Year s Eve itself, a candlelit concert in St Giles Cathedral serves as a more spiritual introduction to the festivities, but the main event is the street party held on and around Princes Street. You need an Edinburgh s Hogmanay Street Party Pass, as numbers are restricted to 100,000 for safety reasons. Passes can be sourced from or via the Visit Scotland tourism website. This event can be seen as a modern take on the tradition of the Scottish ceilidh, the local dances held in villages and towns up and down the country. Today s offering in Edinburgh has become a four-stage, four-hour extravaganza of live music, lights, lasers and partying. Things start to get going at around 8pm and, although not everyone can fit into the gardens and adjacent Princes Street, residents and visitors still party the night away in the surrounding streets, and the concert is broadcast on giant screens for those who can t get a closer look. Recent artists have included Groove Armada, Kasabian, Scissor Sisters, Paolo Nutini and The Proclaimers. Tickets and details of all the acts that will be taking part in the Concert in the Gardens will be available from late October. The Concert in the Gardens is held beneath the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle so ticket-holders also have an excellent view of the famed midnight heritagemagazine.co.uk January 2010 Heritage 39

Above: view of Edinburgh Castle and the Princes Street Gardens Winter Wonderland. Above right: the Loony Dook at South Queensferry.

Upon midnight signalled by the firing of the one o clock gun at Edinburgh Castle everyone looks up to the skies for a display that illuminates the dramatic ramparts of the castle.

5 Above: view of Edinburgh Castle and the Princes Street Gardens Winter Wonderland. Above right: the Loony Dook at South Queensferry. Below: New Year s Eve firework display near Big Ben in London fireworks display. Upon midnight signalled by the firing of the one o clock gun at Edinburgh Castle everyone looks up to the skies for a display that illuminates the dramatic ramparts of the castle. Auld Lang Syne Pete Irvine, artistic director of Edinburgh s Hogmanay, says that while headline musicians bring a contemporary feel to the event, there are some age-old traditions that will always be a part of Edinburgh s Hogmanay. Last year we wanted to extend the midnight moment beyond the fireworks with the biggest ever Auld Lang Syne singalong, with a mile-long chain of people singing, he explains. This year, no doubt, people will follow this Hogmanay tradition by joining hands at midnight to sing the words of Scotland s favourite poet, reminding us all to remember old friends and good times shared together. Then there s the part favoured by many: exchanging hugs and kisses with friends old and new, to wish one another a happy new year. First-footing The moments after midnight see another tradition played out in households throughout Edinburgh and beyond: first-footing. The first person to enter a house after midnight the firstfooter should be a tall, dark-haired man. This is because when Scotland was under the domination of the fearsome Vikings, the unwelcome Nordic invaders that arrived at Scottish doors tended to be short and fairhaired. The first-footer traditionally brings a bottle of whisky, a black bun (Scottish fruit cake), a lump of coal and a piece of silver, but these days he might be let off with just bringing a wee dram of whisky. If the first-footer comes empty-handed, it brings bad luck for the year ahead. The revelry will continue well into the early hours of New Year s Day, and the Scots usually have 2 January as a national holiday too, possibly to aid recovery of those crazy enough to take part in the recent tradition of the New Year s Day Loony Dook event, where various brave souls and bleary-eyed party-goers don fancy dress and begin the year with a dip in the icy waters of the River Forth at South Queensferry. h For more information on Edinburgh see or call Outdoor events subject to change. ALAMY Britain s biggest parties Can t make it to Edinburgh? Then why not head for one of these other cities that celebrate the new year in style Cardiff Join the Welsh new year celebration, called Calennig, at Cardiff s Civic Centre, home to the bmibaby Cardiff Winter Wonderland. There will be live music, a fun fair and a free bus service ferrying people in and out of the city. London Every New Year s Eve, London comes alive with parties and fireworks. The biggest display is at the London Eye, with city bridges closed to traffic so pedestrians can watch from them. On 1 January, the New Year s Day parade is free. Liverpool Welcome the new year in big band style by joining bandleader extraordinaire John Wilson as he guides the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra through a night of razzmatazz and classic, rousing showtunes. Newcastle The whole family can celebrate on the streets of Newcastle as the floats, musicians and dancers of the Winter Carnival parade through the city centre, from the Monument to Haymarket, culminating in an early evening firework display Heritage January 2010 heritagemagazine.co.uk

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