Although the well known Scottish tradition of Hogmanay (originally a type of three cornered, biscuit) is celebrated on New Year's Eve, the Celtic New Year was on the 1st November and was called Samhain. Samhain was the great gathering of the clans and if you watched The Highlander film or TV series you will of heard of the Great Gathering. Well there was such an event and it took place in the mid winter. Hogmanay or Samhain was celebrated on three levels. It was a time of plenty as the live stock were returned from the hills before the severe winter ahead; it was a time of great kinship, as the hill dwellers came to the gathering; and Samhain was the time of year when the darkness of night prevailed over the lightness of the day. According to Celtic myth Lugh, the Sun God was defeated by his dark side and become the Lord of Misrule. Good folk needed the comfort of their own kind and protection from the evil forces of the dark. Much of the symbolism of Samhain can still be found between today's Halloween and Hogmanay. In pre-Christian times, Samhain was an unreal time, when one year turned into another. A twilight zone where the spirits of the dead and those not yet born, walked freely among the living. Even with the introduction of Christianity, the occult association has never been lost, e.g. Halloween or the beginning of the Festival of the Dead and Hogmanay , the end as beginning of the New Year. Many cultures believed the first fit brought luck and the Celtic custom of "first footing" is European in origin and not exclusive to Scotland. The tradition demands the first person to pass the threshold of the house in the New Year must be a sonsy (trustworthy), stranger of dark complexion, carrying a cake called a black bun. This is a rich current bun, and the stranger must also bring a drink called a "wassail" or hot toddy. The cake and drink represent food and sustenance for the coming year. In some parts the First Foot will bring a piece of coal for the fire which symbolized good luck and prosperity for the coming year. To be the perfect first foot you need high arched feet (where water can run freely under the feet). Flat feet at Christmas and New Year are considered very unlucky. In the Isle of Man, an inhabited island between Ireland and England, the perfect first footer is a dark haired man of good appearance with insteps high enough to allow a mouse to run through. It is very unlucky to have a person with fair complexion (or buddy) first foot the home. First footing is still practiced in Scotland and Ireland and other Celtic cultures. After hearing of the bells in the open air (usually the town square) friends visit each other’s homes sharing goodwill and treating themselves to intoxicating liquor. This may go on all night and well into the following day. Some folk were so superstitious they would not cross the threshold of their home until they have been first fitted. Villagers and town’s folk would systematically first foot all the inhabitants so the community was ready to meet the New Year, ahead. Families gather on Ner’day (New Year‘s Day) and feast like the traditional Christmas Day. This represents the modern “gathering of the clans.” Hogmanay is not celebrated as much in the cities now but still remains a strong tradition in rural communities. Ironically the song Auld Land Syne, a traditional air given lyrics by Scottish Poet Robert Burns was not traditionally sand at Hogmanay until the 20th century after it was played at a New Year celebration in New York. The song and sentiment expressed were perfect and have been associated ever since.
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
Slangevar and a Happy 2012 to one and all.
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