The Scots have a most unique way of ringing in the New Year...it's called Hogmanay.
"Hogmanay's origins date back to pagan rituals that marked the time of the winter solstice. Roman celebrations of the hedonistic winter festival of Saturnalia and Viking celebrations of Yule (the origin of the twelve days of Christmas) contributed to celebrations in Scotland around the new year. These celebrations and other ceremonies evolved over the centuries to become the Hogmanay holiday celebrated in Scotland today."
"A custom known as "first footing" dictates that the first person to cross a home's threshold after midnight on New Year's Eve will determine the homeowner's luck for the new year. The ideal visitor bears gifts—preferably whiskey, coal for the fire, small cakes, or a coin—and should be a man with a dark complexion. Why? The answer hearkens back to the 8th century, when the presumably fair-haired Vikings invaded Scotland: a blond visitor was not a good omen."Here's more about the festival of Hogmanay from the National Geographic site.http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/12/1230_021231_hogmanay.html
58 comments:
It seems any excuse for a bonfire is good enough for a Scotsman. lol
Ivy, A fabulous post with perfect timing. I actually had to look up something very basic about it, because for some reason I'd never heard of it.
What they mentioned mostly was: 'a gift solicited or given at Hogmanay' and that young people go about singing and seeking gifts. One thing said they go door to door, which reminded me of what children do here on Halloween. It also said they broadcast it live, but I imagine it would be on their local channels.
You won't believe the fireworks I'm going to hear all night on New Years eve. As a matter of fact, they'll probably start a day early, and a few strays will continue putting off fireworks that they have left over, now and then for a week.
Now down in Houston, they have laws against it with a permit. Out here, anyone can put off fireworks, fire guns, etc. No problem. I'll be glad when (and if) they change that law out here, but we're out of city limits. I sure eventually they'll get around to it.
Ha, Out here, it'll look kinda like that picture you posted.
Nite.
Ivy,
Thanks for the history about Hogmanay. The Vikings were certainly interesting weren't they? Cold killers, but very interesting.
Oh, a tall, dark, handsome, did it mention handsome, dude crosses the threshold of my abode after midnight New Years Eve, with gifts? Sounds interesting. I'm taking applications.
If that happened around here it would more likely be someone who escaped from my joint, not handsome, and taking gifts. But one can dream.
Carol,
I'm with you on that tall, dark & handsome dude
crossing my threshold, I'll settle for the blond, blue eyed guy too..
I'm not that picky either.
As long as he likes to fish, is handy, and has a good sense of humor.
By the way, where did the new year's eve
tradition of firecrackers start. Chloe, we
hear that around here too, but if its real
cold, snowing, not so much...
And here's another, something about black eyed
peas on New Years brings good luck, a southern
thing...
Does anyone know about these....
Dang,
I was just going to post a pic, in my Jams.....sorry don't fit the bill..ahhhhhh
Remember Solar, my guy must know how to dance....so post that pic already....
Must have cabbage and black eyed peas for health and wealth. Black eyed peas are supposed to look like coins but I can't remember why the cabbage. They are both are sure to give you one thing.....gas!
Oh Carol, I had an email from Edvb from TM earlier, he was answering one from months ago & I invited him to stop by here. He sent back
a reply that he would stop by, so hope you
don't mind my extending the invitation.
Usually there are lots of fireworks around here. On the river it is particularly loud and applified by the river and bare trees. Maggie will be a hiding and a shaking.
I'm out of luck then, don't eat cabbage & never even saw a black eyed pea....
Everyone is welcome here Coreen, especially all our buds at the Trail. I still love all of them. I lurk over there every chance I get.
I thought you liked veggies Coreen. How about the little brussel? sprouts. I think they will also do. Try Ivy's recipe.
Cook up some of those black eyed peas with sauted onions in bacon grease. Top them with some jalopenos. Yum. You can do the same with the cabbage. Down here in Louisiana, we wouldn't think of a New Years meal without them. If you don't buy them early, you can't even find any left in the stores around here. Also have to have some corn bread. Meat is optional.
Having a little editing problem again tonight.
Dance, did U say dance? perked right up.....
I like Ed, hope that he does stop by...
Coreen, ever heard of a purple hull pea?
I gave Ed the link, and mentioned everyone's name...he said he was going to a basketball
game when he replied & included a pic of his
son (I think) at a Yankee game sitting next to
Charles Barkley (he mentioned that at TM when it happened...So maybe he'll drop in soon.
No Carol, my veggies are like broccoli, spinach, green beans, carrots, corn
My grandmother used to make pastafassolle??? with I think chick peas, but I really didn't eat it, my aunt liked it.
I don't think I like chick peas. Black eyed and purple hull peas are good.
Carol,
Do you think my Brussels sprouts would make a lucky-enough substitute for black eyed peas on New Year's? That would be good if I could use them...I have a bag of raw sprouts in my fridge 'cuz they got a thumbs-down from the family for Christmas Dinner. lol
Chloe's gotten me intrigued about the broadcast possibilities for Hogmanay in Scotland. I think we get BBC on our cable channels. I just have to remember the time zone difference (as if I could forget when you all were blogging while I was snoozing and vice versa). lol
Hogmanay Live
"The etymology of the word is obscure. It may have been introduced to Middle Scots through the Auld Alliance. In 1604 the custom was mentioned in the Elgin Records as hagmonay. The most satisfactory explanation is a derivation from the Northern French dialect word hoguinané, or variants such as hoginane, hoginono and hoguinettes. Those being derived from 16th century Old French aguillanneuf which is either a gift given at New Year, a children's cry for such a gift or New Year's Eve itself.[1] The second element would appear to be l'an neuf i.e. the New Year. Compare those to Norman hoguinané and the obsolete customs in Jersey of crying ma hodgîngnole, and in Guernsey of asking for an oguinane, for a New Year gift."
"Craig Ferguson described Hogmanay as follows: 'In Scotland, New Year's is called Hogmanay. And it is a time when people who can inspire awe in the IRISH for the amount of ALCOHOL that they drink decide to RAMP IT UP a notch'." lol
Seems that southerners eating black eyed peas
on New Years Day for luck & prosperity dates
back to the Civil War. When Sherman's troops
marched through they destroyed or took the crops, but the black eyed peas were ignored, thereby becoming a major food source for the surviving Confederates.
No wonder we don't have that tradition up here!
Solar, yes, the Vikings were/are a fierce lot, but I prefer the guys in the kilts.
(^_~)
I think the fireworks shooting is a "southern thing" as well. They've already started out here. "Illegal" doesn't phase them. The dads are worse than the kids. Meg hates the noise. Reminds her too much of thunder. She'll be tucked away in her kennel at midnight for safe-keeping.
Ok, I found a New Years Day tradition I wouldn't mind...wishing others or yourself
good luck with a symbol of luck, usually something in the form of a ring or circle as it symbolizes 'coming full circle', that is completing a year's cycle.
And the Dutch belive that eating donuts on new year's day will bring good fortune..
Now I do like donuts..
Cabbage it is. My brussels sprouts are close enough.
Cabbage for New Year's
I like, donuts, coming full circle, ( what goes around; comes....)I like the circle of life that never ends; so count me in...donuts, I start from the center out.....
I hit that last comment post, too early...was going to say...as much as Ivy like her men in Kilts....
Glazed donuts, cinnamon donuts, they would be true donuts with a hole.... but I really like strawberry jelly donuts w/powdered sugar.....
Than thats it Solar, new years day, we must
have a donut & wish all good luck...I promise..
Hey,
Indians; and Tarzan had loin cloths..sort a Kilty no...does that count.??? later.
I'll have to stick with the donuts, since Ivy,
sorry, but no way do I like a guy in a kilt.
Coreen, that sounds like a good plan to me..donuts, on New Years Day....will take my time to get just the right ones..
I suggest you guys might want to adopt our traditions from down here in Louisiana. Remember we did top the charts in happiness. Of course it also includes a healthy dose of the spirits, your choice of which ones. Happy New Year.
Solar, its a deal, I will make sure I have some donuts in the house for new years day too.
Our very own swamp tradition.
Deal, but I do think that Carol has a good point tho....I used to love going out for a New Years Party (Dance) we used to rent a hall, and stayed over night at the nearest hotel, down town chi-go, or where ever they would take our club group....lots of excellent memories.....
And its pumpkin time, so good night everyone..
Coreen,
What's not to like?
History of the Kilt
Came back to say Carol/Chloe catching up on my reading, & saw that the movie 'its complicated' is directed by the woman who did 'something's gotta give' a fun 'older chickflick' that I really enjoyed...
Sorry Ivy, not a thing for me to like, my idea
of a guy.....
Don Johnson/Sonny Crockett
And the Patrick Dempsey look further down the
page link, not bad either.....
Ivy, still wondering what those Scots did to keep the boys warm when wearing their kilts. I saw in that link you posted that the girls did look up their skirts too. I guess they also wanted the answer to that question.
Today is Friday for me with another 4 days off. I have lots I need to do but will I???
" it is a time when people who can inspire awe in the IRISH for the amount of ALCOHOL that they drink decide to RAMP IT UP a notch"
Ivy, they really do love to drink. It's a cultural thing (Ha! You don't have to be Irish to love alcohol though!).
Some of my favorite actors are Irish: Colin Farrell (and from what I see, he really loves to party) and Pierce Brosnan (whom I love).
Carol, 4 days off. I bet you're ready for them too. I guess I don't need to ask whether or not you're on call. :)
Coreen, you need to see that movie. It's a feel good movie. And not just for pinks, but for everyone. Very funny.
... I'll have to finish catching up later.
I was going to say any excuse to drink whisky Ivy, not a bonfire. I have a friend that founded a Games, and I've never seen so much whisky consumed.
I think Irish tend to prefer beer, though they do make some fine whiskys. I had a petite little girlfriend from Dublin that could drink me under the table without effect.
Fire crackers from Chinese New Years, of course. They invented them. San Francisco is lots of fun for Chinese New Year if you ever get a chance.
76 here in Florida. I'm stripped down to my skivvies and a t-shirt. Of course I forgot my short pants.
How ya feelin' Solar? Hope you're gooder. Afraid you're probably the only swarthy stranger here. Though my father was a darker middle easterner I took after my mother's lighter Irish side.
Don,
76 and your bragging about it....going to be a looong winter; with you and Tony, down there.!
Hope that your meeting was a successful one. Irish, that like to have long conversations over a cpl drinks...the worst there is....never get home when im around one of them.....
Me, just imagine Anthony Quinn. They say that I look like him...of Ben Kingsly...the Greek side of me shows more than the other mutts....
forgot. they say that I look Italian, or Mexican, or.....
I just put up a new post.
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