New Year's Eve & New Year's Day

Hogmanay:

(Pronounced [ˌhɔɡməˈneː]) is the Scottish word for the last day of the year (New Year’s Eve). Hogmanay goes hand in hand with the celebrations of the New Year celebrated by the Scots. Normally this is just the beginning of the New Year’s celebrations which lasts throughout the night until the morning of New Year's Day on the 1^st January and in some cases the 2^nd January which fortunately happens to be a Bank Holiday in Scotland.

Origins:

The roots of Hogmanay appear to be a mixture of differing cultures which include: Norse / Gaelic and Viking. Starting with the celebration of the Winter Solstice among the Norse and incorporating customs from the Gaelic celebration of Samhain (Samhain meaning Summer’s End is a Gaelic harvest festival). The Vikings celebrated Yule which went on to contribute later to the Twelve Days of Christmas or as they were sometimes called in Scotland: the "Daft Days".

With the Protestant Reformation of the 16^th Century - the winter festival went underground only to re-emerge again towards the end of the 17^th Century.

Customs:

Nationally / locally and even further afield there are many customs associated with Hogmanay. The most recognised custom is the custom known as: “first footing” which commences immediately after the clock strikes 12. “First footing” involves being the first person to cross the threshold of the home of a friend or neighbour and the first person to cross the threshold usually gives a symbolic gift such as salt (this is less common today) / coal / shortbread / whisky and black bun (a rich fruit cake) which is intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder. Food and drink are then given to the guests - this may go on throughout the early hours of the morning and well into the next day (however nowadays people visit houses well into the middle of January). The “first-foot” is supposed to set the luck for the rest of the year and traditionally tall dark men are preferred as the “first-foot” J

In Italy the “first foot” traditionally gives the householder the gift of grapes however there should always be an odd number of grapes NOT an even number (not sure why) and again tall dark men are preferred as the “first foot”.

"Auld Lang Syne":

“Auld Lang Syne” is a traditional Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and was later set to music. The Hogmanay custom of singing "Auld Lang Syne" has become common in many countries including non-English speaking countries.

We link arms (that are crossed over one another) as the clock strikes midnight for New Year’s Day and all sing “Auld Lang Syne” and usually we are standing in a circle.

According to tradition it is only intended that participants link arms at the beginning of the final verse co-ordinating with the lines of the song which contain the lyrics to do so and typically it is only in Scotland this practice is carried out correctly.

Ne’erday (New Year’s Day):

A Viking longship is burnt during Edinburgh's annual Hogmanay celebrations (which nowadays lasts for four days) - Edinburgh has no known historical connection with the Norse invaders.

When Ne'erday falls on a Sunday the 3^rd January becomes an additional Bank Holiday in Scotland / when Ne'erday falls on a Saturday both the 3^rd and 4^th January become Bank Holidays in Scotland and when Ne'erday falls on a Friday the 4^th January becomes an additional Bank Holiday in Scotland (and only in Scotland).

As in most of the world, the largest Scottish cities, Glasgow / Edinburgh and Aberdeen hold all-night celebrations. However, the Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations are among the largest in the world although in 2003-2004 most of the organised events had to be cancelled at short notice due to very high winds. Similarly the 2006-2007 celebrations in Edinburgh / Glasgow and Stirling were all cancelled on the day again due to high winds and heavy rain. The Hogmanay celebrations in Aberdeen, however, went ahead as planned and was opened by the 1980’s pop music group Wet Wet Wet.

Handsel Day:

Handsel Day is known as Handsel Monday and is the first Monday of the New Year. The “handsel” is a reference to the small tips and gifts of money it was customary to give at the beginning of the first working week of the New Year. Handsel was a word for gift box and in this respect Handsel Day is very similar to Boxing Day as historically gifts and presents were given often by the employer giving his staff presents and parents giving children presents. Handsel Day is also marked by teachers giving gifts to their students and a roast dinner would be eaten to celebrate the festival.

In modern Scotland this practice has now died out.

Written by: Andria Owen

Boxing Day

When is Boxing Day?

In the UK, Boxing Day is usually celebrated on the day after Christmas Day – the 26^th December. However, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, Boxing Day is the first weekday after Christmas.

Just as Christmas Day – Boxing Day is a public holiday. This used to mean that the day is a non-working day throughout the UK and when Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday the following Monday is a public holiday (nowadays many people work on public holidays mostly usually in the retail sector).

Why is the 26^th December called Boxing Day?

Traditionally the 26^th December was the day the “Christmas Box” was opened and the contents shared with the poor.

From the mid 19^th century Boxing Day was the custom of giving trades people a Christmas box.

What is a Christmas Box?

The Christmas box was either a wooden or clay container where people placed their gifts for the poor.

The History of the Christmas Box

·         To Protect Ships – During the Age of Exploration when great sailing ships set off to discover new lands a Christmas Box was used as a good luck device. A priest would place a small container on each ship whilst it was still in port and all the crewmen who wanted to return safely from their voyage who drop money into the box. It was then sealed up and kept onboard the ship for the duration of the voyage.

If the ship returned to port safely the sealed box was handed over to the priest who would say a Mass of thanks for the success of the voyage. The priest would keep the sealed box until Christmas when he would open the box to share the contents with the poor.

·         To Help The Poor – On Christmas Day an “Alms Box” was placed in every church into which worshippers would place a gift for the poor of the parish. These boxes were then opened on the day after Christmas, thus the day becoming known as: Boxing Day

·         Presents For The Workers – Many poorly paid workers were required to work on Christmas Day and were given the following day off so they could visit their families. As they prepared to leave their employers would give them Christmas boxes.

During the late 18^th century – Lords and Ladies of the manor would “box up” their leftover food and sometimes even gifts and distribute them the day after Christmas to all the tenants who lived and worked on their lands.

·          The Tradition Still Continues Today..... – The tradition of giving money to workers still continues today. It is customary for householders to give small monetary gifts to regular visiting trades people such as: the milkman / dustmen / paper boy / etc. In some workplaces employers give a Christmas bonus to their employees.

And more recently schools across the UK put together Christmas boxes of gifts, mainly for children that are sent to poorer countries.

St Stephen’s Day

Boxing Day is also known as St Stephen’s Day – mentioned in the Christmas carol: Good King Wenceslas

·         Good King Wenceslas looked out

On the Feast of Stephen ......

Who Was St Stephen?

Stephen lived in Rome and was the first man to be killed for believing in the teachings of Jesus – his story can be found in Acts of the Apostles 6: 1 to 8: 2.

Some people believe that he shares this day with another St Stephen – who came from Sweden and is the patron saint of horses.

What Happens on Boxing Day in England?

·         Boxing Day Hunts

Traditionally Boxing Day was a day for fox hunting where horse riders dressed in red and white riding gear and accompanied by dogs called foxhounds would chase a fox through the countryside until the fox was tired out which would enable the dogs to catch and kill the fox.

Animal welfare campaigners objected to fox hunting saying it was a cruel way to kill a fox whilst many of the participants viewed fox hunting as a crucial part of the rural history of England claiming it was vital for conservation and a method of pest control. This is why - in November 2004 MP’s voted to ban hunting with dogs in England and Wales therefore from 18^th February 2005 it  became a criminal offence to hunt with dogs however it is still legal to exercise hounds, chase a scent and flush out foxes to be shot.

·         Family Time

Traditionally Boxing Day is the day when families get together to watch sport, play board games and eat the leftovers from Christmas Day.

·         Shopping

In recent years retailers have broken with tradition and now open their shops on Boxing Day thus enabling them to start their New Year sales early. Hundreds of people now spend their Boxing Day queuing outside shops, usually Next / Gap / Selfridges / etc, waiting to be one of the first in line to bag a bargain.

Hope you all enjoy your Boxing Day – whatever you are choosing to do :D 

Written by Andria Owen