Midnight on the 31st of December, which heralds the arrival of the New Year, is celebrated throughout the world, nowadays with huge displays of fireworks.
In Britain most of the customs associated with New Year’s Eve are influenced by the Scottish Hogmanay, which is traditionally celebrated not just in Scotland but in the northern counties of England: as Hagmena
in Northumberland; Hogmina
in Cumbria; and Hagman-ha
in Yorkshire.
In Scotland, after the Reformation, Christmas was rarely celebrated, as it was associated with Catholicism – so New Year became their focus for festivities. Apart from drinking, eating and dancing the main custom practised on New Year’s Eve is that of first footing
to bring luck into the household for the forthcoming year. A tall, dark-haired man is chosen from the assembled celebrants, and he must go outside, knock on the door and offer gifts of salt, coal, shortbread and whisky.
In the south of England New Year’s Eve parties are held, but the main celebration takes place in central London where crowds gather to hear the chimes of Big Ben sounding the beginning of the New Year. In recent years a firework display is set off along the Thames, launched from the London Eye.
It has been suggested that first-footing, the custom of a tall dark stranger entering the house bringing good luck for the New Year, originates from the Viking raids in the north of England during the eighth century. The arrival of a fair-haired stranger at the door would not bode well and would fill the inhabitants of the dwelling with fear. So dark hair would suggest a friendly native who would herald the opposite – friendship and safety.
Another, and probably more likely, explanation is that it is a development of a pagan custom practised during Samhain. Fuel was gathered for a ritual fire that represented not only the warmth of the sun, but the threshold between this world and the next. This was accompanied with feasting. The fuel and the food then became symbolic gifts brought by the dark stranger promising good luck and prosperity for the coming year.
In Scotland and northern counties of England the first footer would bring whisky and money as well as fuel – usually coal – and food (in Scotland this would be a piece of Black Bun).
It is unlikely that there will be a stranger at your New Year’s Eve party or family gathering so you will need to select someone to æpretendæ to be unknown. You will need to choose a dark-haired man or woman, provide him or her with a lump of coal, a piece of cake and a bottle of alcohol – preferably whisky – and send them outside asking them to knock on the closed front door. Ideally, he or she should knock on the door on the first chime of midnight or as soon as possible thereafter.
Auld Lang Syne (times long past) is a poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 based on a ballad, “Old Long Syne” written by James Watson in 1711 which, in turn, was influenced by an ancient traditional folk song. In 1799 the Burns version was set to a traditional melody which is sung to this day at the end of New Year’s Eve gatherings.
In Scotland the custom is to gather round in a circle and join hands to sing the song. At the beginning of the last verse (And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!) everyone crosses their arms across their breast so that the right-hand joins that of the person on left and the left hand joins with the person on the right.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?[Chorus:]
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp!
And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.[Chorus]
We twa hae run about the braes
And pu’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.[Chorus]
We twa hae paidl’d i’ the burn,
Frae mornin’ sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.[Chorus]
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right guid willy waught,
For auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o’ lang syne![Chorus:]
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.And surely ye’ll buy your pint‐cup,
And surely I’ll buy mine;
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.[Chorus]
We two have run about the hills,
And pulled the daisies fine;
But we’ve wander’d many a weary foot,
Since auld lang syne.[Chorus]
We two have paddled in the brook,
From mornin’ sun till dinnertime:
But seas between us broad have roar’d,
Since auld lang syne.[Chorus]
And there’s a hand, my trusty friend,
And give us a hand o’ thine;
And we’ll take a right goodwill draft,
For auld lang syne.
