Forum Thread

Fitlike (how are you)!

So, we're fast approaching Christmas and Hogmanay. Ah, you'll ask what Hogmanay is, now won't you? Its something strange, other worldly, a weird religion!

Well, no. Hogmanay is an important Scottish Calendar custom that starts on December 31st, and ends usually on the 2nd of January, depending on what part of Scotland you're celebrating it in. Hogmanay is the Scottish word for the last day of the year. This is for the Gregorian calendar, but dates way back to the Julian calendar. It's believe to start out as a Celtic celebration of worshiping the sun in hopes it would return. First footing, lighting of the new fire, and cleansing your cattle with smoke is/was practice during Hogmanay. This is suppose to bring good luck, and lines up with the more modern New Year celebration. In Stonehaven, the Fire Ball festival occurs. Again, this is to possibly cleans the old and bring in the new.
In Burghead, they celebrate New Year on the 12th of January, following the Julian calendar customs. See, when the calendar was switched over to the Gregorian from the Julian, most Scottish people didn't know the change occurred until well into the 17th century. The event at Burghead is called "Burning of the Clavie", another fire festival that involves a burning barrel carried around on the shoulders of the Clavie King. This tradition was revived and is still carried out today. Youtube should have this event, if you want to see what its like.
You see, for the longest time, and is still fairly true today, Scotland didn't celebrate Christmas to what you typically see today. For the most part, it was a working day, and Hogmanay was the day off, and traditionally more important. It set up how the rest of the year would be, so coal and embers were often given to friends and neighbors for their new fires that they would keep lit year round. They would only be put out for Hogmanay so they could start anew.

So, there are wonderfully delightful fire festivals in Scotland that are coming up. If you happen to be in Scotland, or know someone from Scotland, ask them about Hogmanay and how to celebrate it.

What traditions do you celebrate?