The Happiest of New Year's
from
Linderhof
to you!!!!
Scottish New Year's Customs
Hogmanay is a more important holiday in Scotland than Christmas. On the last night of the old year and the first few minutes of the new, Scots prefer to be in their own homes (or with friends). And they abandon their vacuum cleaner and sweep their floor -- so that the Auld Year is swept out just as the New Year is welcomed in.
After midnight, relatives and friends call upon one another in the early hours of the morning and the first few days of the New Year.
It's important that the "first foot" (your first visitor after Midnight) be a tall and dark man!
When you "first foot" someone, (that is to visit them for the first time in the New Year), it is customary to take some shortbread or tea or whisky or some token of good will.
And, of course, as the clock strikes midnight, not only the Scots but everyone sings Auld Lang Syne.
Although husband Jim's heritage is Scottish, we don't follow Scottish customs on New Year's or Hogmanay.
But, this year, I think, I'll bake some shortbread to take when I go visiting after January 1. I think that is a lovely custom!
12 comments:
Taking shortbread when you go visiting is a lovely custom. Happy New Year to you Martha. My wish for this coming year is that we make every effort to meet. I have my glass of champagne in hand and I am raising up my glass to wish the Happiest of the New Year.I hope you escaped all that bad weather in your area today.
Carolyn
Happy New Year, Martha! My dad tells stories about First Footing in Cape Breton, and still thinks it's a good idea to have a dark man cross the threshold before anyone else in the New Year.
Happy new year to you and your family.
love
Lyn
xxx
What a fun and lovely custom. Happy New Year! I hope this is the best year ever filled with nothing but Blessings. Hugs, Marty
My mother always said it was important for the first visitor in the house on new year's day to be a man. I don't think she specified his physical appearance. I was just thinking about that yesterday and wondered what she did if a woman turned up first?
Whomever arrives at your door this day, I hope you enjoy them and have a wonderful year.
Best,
Bonnie
What a lovely way to think about all of this, Martha. (Though I'm also quite fond of the Dutch tradition of eating donuts on New Year's Day. ;-) ) Best wishes to you for a happy new year!
Ben
http://kissthecook-ben.blogspot.com/
It is a lovely custom, Martha. I hope the New Year brings you continuing health and happiness. Blessings...Mary
Happy New Year and lots fo good 'blogging moments ' for more 365 days now =D
Sounds like fun!!
OH,Martha!
I vaccumed the floors first thing this morning! How funny is that!
Glady the last tree is down, put away, and I'm ready to begin the New Year with a clean, organized home!Keep your creative writings and inspirational decor coming fresh and New this Year.
Fondly,
Pat
I love old customs like that, or at least modern variations of them. :-)
Happy New Year to you, Martha!
Interesting how they sweep the floor of the "old" and we Cubans throw out a bucketfull of water! Notwithstanding, the idea is the same. Goes to show you there must be something going on here!
Happy New Year, dear Martha...here's to inspiration for the new year!
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