[Miss Laura]

This year is nearly over....

25 mins until Dec 31st is upon us in Scotland.

In Scotland Dec 31st although is New Year's Eve, here it's called Hogmanay. I have never found a Scot to not say Hogmanay. As midnight approaches on 31st we clean our houses from top to bottom, Stock up on alcohol and food (nibbles). We get the lump of coal ready. We get the gifts ready. We make sure we have a Maderia and Cherry cake (family favourites), make sure we have good music. Some might attend Ceilidh's some might attend the Edinburgh Hogmanay party that happens every year (except 2020).

My family go to the pub, we bring in the bells (see in the new year) there then head to my parents house for a party. We "first foot" my parents. This is a Scottish tradition where in olden days a tall, dark, handsome stranger knocks on your front door.... thus being a guest into your house in the new year. They bring a lump of coal and gifts. In my family its always alcohol/biscuits/a cake and a calender.... Everyone in my family does calenders. It has to be our city/local calender or a Scottish calender. We have a party listening to olden music, modern music, pipes and drums.

New Year's Day I find myself (not this year) jumping into a freezing river for charity it's known as a New Year Dook. Hundreds of people do it. It's a great way to bring in the New Year.

After showering, warming up and looking bonnie (pretty), I cook our traditional New Year Dinner a Steak Pie. We have more alcohol and enjoy traditional Scottish music, programmes and stories. My family are traditional.

Well hope you liked my wee story.... from here in Scotland have a braw (great) Hogmanay whatever you do and I'll see you all in 2021.... "Lang May Yer Lum Reek" (long may your chimney smoke’, this is the best way to wish someone a long and healthy life in Scottish tongue)

[Nammu]

My family didn’t have any real traditional things on New Year’s Eve. When my parents were younger they’d go to someone’s house and us children were left at home. We’d watch tv then toast the new year with soda. As we kids got older we went out with our friends and once old enough to drink toasted the New Years with alcohol. When I lived in Texas friends would have fire works. Now tho, the last couple years mum and I watch tv then toast each other with coffee(her) and soda(me) no big deal

[Soupe du jour]

Miss Laura, I very much enjoyed reading about your Hogmanay and sincerely wish I would be invited, but unfortunately that'll be just a wish.

New Years Eve celebration, in my family, was never that special. Even our friends' celebrations weren't that special. I hate to say it, but many recent years I would rather just go to sleep before the clock struck midnight and wake up the next day and then proceed, as usual.

Usually on New Years day, my mom would host a large family dinner. The meal was usually a ham because that was what my maternal grandmother demanded and that old witch bullied my mother into doing what she wanted and inviting who she wanted to my mother's dinner. Deep down my mother wanted something else. Unfortunately, my dear mom died before hers. Why the good often die young and the bad old, I am not sure. When my mom passed, the family New Year dinners ended.

Once during a trip to Czech Republic, I was introduced to their tradition of eating lentils early in the day after New Years Eve. I loved that dish, so I make that most years. I call it "Lentils, Herbs, and Ham with an Egg Hat". It is basically a lentil hash with veggies and ham in it topped with sunny side up eggs and herbs.

[*Beth*]

Laura, that sounds AMAZING!!!!!!! If bringing in the New Year was such a joy here I'd be giving it my attention.


btw, what is the lump of coal for?

Laura your traditions remind me a lot of mummering which is a Christmast tradition in Newfoundland, Canada.

Mummering in Newfoundland: A Christmas Tradition - Holidappy - Celebrations

As for my family, no real traditions for new-years eve, there is always un reveillon (all nighter of sorts) happening at one house or another. We do have a lot of food traditions, there are several dishes that we only make around the holidays or special occasions. Poutine rapée, rapée, seapie (not sure on spelling but it's not related to seafood it's a meat pie made of 6 types of wild game), etc. They are normally prepared and consumed from Christmast to January 1st.

We are a lively family, there is singing, dancing, card games, anything that makes us be in one room. A little harder to get the latest generation of their phones but we still have fun.

Best wishes to you and your family for the new year.
Is there a traditional Scottish way of saying "Yay we survived 2020?"

[Miss Laura]

See post below

[Miss Laura]

Lump of coal is something old to bring in the New year. Now a days you can just buy a lump of coal as most of us do not have coal fires. Its probably a tradition from the Highlands I will Google it and properly get back to you

[Miss Laura]

Originally Posted by TheMartyJoy

Laura your traditions remind me a lot of mummering which is a Christmast tradition in Newfoundland, Canada.


Mummering in Newfoundland: A Christmas Tradition - Holidappy - Celebrations


As for my family, no real traditions for new-years eve, there is always un reveillon (all nighter of sorts) happening at one house or another. We do have a lot of food traditions, there are several dishes that we only make around the holidays or special occasions. Poutine rapée, rapée, seapie (not sure on spelling but it's not related to seafood it's a meat pie made of 6 types of wild game), etc. They are normally prepared and consumed from Christmast to January 1st.


We are a lively family, there is singing, dancing, card games, anything that makes us be in one room. A little harder to get the latest generation of their phones but we still have fun.


Best wishes to you and your family for the new year.

Is there a traditional Scottish way of saying "Yay we survived 2020?"

Yes!!! But I can't write it here I'd be banned lol.

TFIO- Thank f*** It's Over???

Us Scots love a good game, song, dance. Think we will be watching good old programmes such as The Hootanany (Hogmanay) show etc

[Blue_Bird]

I always get Chinese takeout

[MuddyBoots]

Chinese take out, staying up til midnight, and fireworks.

[Miss Laura]

First-Footing

The first person to enter a house after midnight on Hogmanay is believed to affect the household's fortunes in the year to come.
Ideally a dark-haired man who carries a gift, usually a piece of coal or food such as black bun, is welcome. This will bring good luck for the next year as the gift symbolises prosperity.
Someone with fair hair and female is considered to bring bad luck. Of course, food and drink is also offered to the first-footer and visits like this can go on until the wee small hours.....

We do this throughout January first footing people's houses. We always have coal, alcohol, Calendars and cake with us and in return we get endless drinks and food upon that visit.

Hope that helps you guys out!

[Miss Laura]

Found this on Facebook see what you think!

[*Beth*]

Thanks, Laura - This is all fascinating!

[Miss Laura]

Happy 2021 from the UK!!! Its cold, wet, windy, icy, snowy.... there are fireworks going off currently.

Have had a good few drinks lol finished a bottle of Prosecco and onto a champagne to bring in the year. Happy New Year guys!!! Xxxx

[*Beth*]

HAPPY NEW YEAR, LAURA!

[Mountaindewed]

I got Chinese takeout tonight. When I was a kid I’d stay up until midnight and we’d drink fake champaign and then everyone went right to bed. Now I usually go to bed early and wake up at 11:30. I think I’ll just skip it altogether this year since I’m on the path to a better sleep schedule and I don’t want to mess it up.

Last New Years Eve I became the sickest I have ever been in my life. I thought I just had the worst cold of my life. But I think I actually had Covid. But it was 12 days of pure hell and at one point like 7 days into it, I could barely walk for 2 days because I had such bad muscle aches. After the 12 days I was not feeling my best all of January.

[wolftrap]

Laura, your traditions sound amazing. I've only the tradition of getting hammered, whether with friends or alone. Haven't done that in years. Now it's a movie and early to bed.

[wolftrap]

Also...only one of two people have ever drunk me under the table. One was a Scottish woman. I was in Shropshire, UK, at a wedding. I was at the bar at a hotel/tavern from the 1600's called The Heathers. We'd both had ample slugs of the tavern beer (delicious). She challenged me to down a bottle of scotch with her. She had raven red hair and piercing green eyes. I fell in love immediately. The next thing I knew, it was morning and the wedding was scheduled to commence in a few hours. I downed a greasy English breakfast and staggered to the wedding. There she was, radiant with her husband, both scuba divers who specialized in deep sea salvage. I meekly nestled myself within the crowd, horribly hung over. Someday I would love to visit Scotland.

The theme song for 2020 was The Police's "Don't Stand So Close To Me"!!!

[wolftrap]

Originally Posted by whatever2013

The theme song for 2020 was The Police's "Don't Stand So Close To Me"!!!

Oh my gosh, I just got it!