"I am now come to your country,
Renewing the duty of Hogmanay;
Of its mysteries, what need I tell?
It began in the time of our ancestors."
___ Scots Gaelic song of Hogmanay (trans CM)
The festival of Hogmanay - a word whose origins are lost - is celebrated in Scotland every New Year's Eve. A festival that outshine Christmas even today. Hogmanay is celebrated with vigor by every Scot. Rich food and strong drink are abundant; shining music and lively dancing are enjoyed. The custom of first-footing - of receiving with celebration the first guest across the threshold after the stroke of midnight - is still practiced. According to tradition, the first-footer should be a dark-haired person from outside the household who is able to bring good fortune to the house; healthy, young, and vigorous people are particularly welcomed. The first-footer brings a 'handsel' (or a token of good fortune) to the household. This is usually fuel, food or a bottle of whisky. The first-footer is then hospitably welcomed and given a gift, usually joining in the party that runs until the small hours of the morning.
The magical turning of the old used-up year into a fresh new one has little to do with chronology and much to do with the hope of new beginnings and all that they bring. The old year can bring no more opportunities to us, but we can give it a good send-off with a party that simultaneously welcomes the new possibilities ahead. If the celebrations of this evening become sometimes riotous or rowdy, it is worth remembering that the mysterious crack between one year and another is best leaped rather than crawled over! In this time between worlds and times, nothing is as orderly as normal. It is a time to celebrate life and the return of the sun from its darkest, deepest depths.
"Welcome the new year over your threshold and see the old year out with some fancy footwork and good cheer!"
[From: "The Celtic Spirit" by Caitlin Matthews]
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