Hogmanay

Happy New Year Fireworks Vectors by Vecteezy

 

The old year fades away and the new year enters brightly, bringing hope for health and prosperity in the days to come.  Cultures throughout the world have their own method of celebration, many with fireworks and joyful music.

Last year, just before New Year's 2021, I discovered a Youtube three part presentation of Hogmanay over Edinburgh that made a great impression on me.  When I looked for  Hogmanay for 2022, I learned much more about the tradition in general and the 2021 Youtube presentation in particular.

 

Hogmanay is the Scottish word for the last day of the year or New Year’s Eve. Although Hogmanay is generally regarded as the most important Scottish holiday, the origins of both the word and the traditions are obscure. Many people think that the term comes from French but there are also theories that it may have Gaelic, Norse, or Anglo-Saxon origins.

The traditions, as with most modern holidays, likely grew from pagan ones and many were probably also adapted from Christmas. After the Scottish Reformation, the Church of Scotland stifled public Christmas celebrations in the 17th century, and Christmas has only been a public holiday in Scotland since 1958! So it is likely that the modern Hogmanay traditions have some origins back in the 17th century while others are much more recent.

Older Hogmanay traditions and customs that are still practiced include gift giving, house blessing (and sometime cleaning), and the custom of first-footing. First footing is tied to the belief that the first person to cross the threshold in the New Year will bring the fortune to that household, bad or good, for the coming year. The most desirable first-foot visitors (at least in Scotland) are tall, dark men who come bearing gifts. Good traditional gifts include whisky (obviously!), coal or peat (for heating), food (especially bread), and silver coins.

Most people in Scotland celebrate Hogmanay with meals, music, and dancing, and many towns have special customs or sporting events. Hogmanay gatherings are often ended with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” which is a poem by Robert Burns that is set to folk music. The 17th century Tron Kirk was a traditional place to gather around in Edinburgh for Hogmanay, but this has changed with the onset of the organized Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival.[1]

With the Covid19 global lockdown, Hogmanay 2020 in person festivities were cancelled months in advance.  In its place a unique, virtual celebration was produced by Underbelly in a three night YouTube presentation of poetry, drone images and music.

Fare Well 2020 Part 1; YouTube

The poetry of Jackie Kay was used for the three nights--Fare Well 2020-- Past, Present and Future.  Lighted drones formed images in the skies over the Scottish Highlands; those images were then combined with images of Edinburgh to make a magical panorama.  The words were read in accompaniment of the images and a background music completed each night.

Edinburgh Hogmanay farewell 2020(Complete) - YouTube 

For the behind scenes introduction to the producers, directors, visual artists and poet, follow the link below.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2020 - Behind the Scenes - YouTube

I checked the Edinburgh Hogmanay festivity plans for this year and found the usual torchlight parade, parties and fireworks were planned and then, due to Covid19 were cancelled just this last week.  In person activities are still not safe.

For a truly uplifting celebration in memory of the past two years with hope for the future, I recommend you watch this presentation.  May it bring you the peace and joy we need in this season and the coming year.

1.  Hogmanay 2021 / 2022: A Guide to Celebrating New Years in Edinburgh Scotland (independenttravelcats.com)

MaryLynn Strickland