Hogmanay
hogmanay hogmənay ⁠nay scot ˌhɔɡməˈneː scot word last day old year synonymous celebration new year scottish manner normally followed celebration morning new year day january case january—a scottish bank holiday context word hogmanay used loosely describe entire period consisting last day old year first day new year instance event held banner edinburgh hogmanay take place december origin hogmanay unclear may derived norse gaelic observance winter solstice custom vary throughout scotland usually include giftgiving visiting home friend neighbour particular attention given firstfoot first guest new year etymology word obscure earliest proposed etymology come scotch presbyterian eloquence held term corruption presumed ancient greek ἁγία μήνη hagíā mḗnē meant holy month three main modern theory derive french norse gaelic root word first recorded latin entry west riding yorkshire hagnonayse first appearance scot language came record elgin hagmonay subsequent thcentury spelling include hagmena hogmynae night hagmane entry scotch presbyterian eloquence although hogmanay currently predominant spelling pronunciation several variant spelling pronunciation recorded including first syllable variously hɔg hog hʌg hʌug haŋ term may introduced middle scot via french commonly cited explanation derivation northern french dialectal word hoguinané variant hoginane hoginono hoguinettes derived thcentury middle french aguillanneuf meaning either gift given new year childrens cry gift new year eve oxford english dictionary report theory saying term borrowing aguillanneuf medieval french cry used welcome new year consisting unknown first element plus lan neuf new year explanation supported childrens tradition observed part scotland least visiting house locality new year eve requesting receiving small treat sweet fruit second element would appear lan neuf new year source suggesting druidical origin practice overall compare norman hoguinané obsolete custom jersey cry hodgîngnole guernsey asking oguinane new year gift see also la guiannee québec la guignolée doortodoor collection people experiencing poverty compare also apparent spanish cognate aguinaldoaguilando suggested latin derivation hoc anno year suggestion include au gui mener lead mistletoe à gueux mener bring beggar au gui lan neuf mistletoe new year lhomme est né man born word may come goidelic language frazer kelley report manx newyear song begin line tonight new year night hogunnaa record full text manx kelley us spelling ogunaa trolala whereas source parse hogunnaa give modern manx form hob dy naa manx dictionary though give hoptunaa manx pronunciation hopʰ tθu neː generally glossing halloween many manxspecific folklore collection context also recorded south scotland example roxburghshire ⟨m⟩ word thus hunganay could suggest ⟨m⟩ intrusive another theory occasionally encountered derivation phrase thog mi èigheugh hok mi ˈɲeː raised cry resembles hogmanay pronunciation part rhyme traditionally recited new year unclear simply case folk etymology overall gaelic consistently refers new year eve oidhche na bliadhna ùire night new year oidhche challainn night calends author reject french goidelic theory instead suggest ultimate source word norman french scot goidelic variant common norse root suggested full form hoginanayetrollalayhogman aye troll lay manx cognate hoptunaa trollalaa hogmanay trollolay give u white bread none gray invoke hillmen icelandic haugmenn compare anglosaxon hoghmen elf banishes troll sea norse á læ sea repp furthermore link trollalaytrollalaa rhyme recorded percy relic trolle away trolle awaye synge heave howe rombelowe trolle away read straightforward invocation trollbanning speculated root hogmanay may reach back celebration winter solstice among norse well incorporating custom gaelic celebration samhain viking celebrated yule later contributed twelve day christmas daft day sometimes called scotland christmas celebrated festival hogmanay traditional celebration scotland may result protestant reformation christmas seen papist hogmanay also celebrated far north england including richmond north yorkshire traditionally known hagmena northumberland hogmina cumberland hagmanha hagmanheigh north riding yorkshire many custom national local associated hogmanay widespread national custom practice firstfooting start immediately midnight involves first person cross threshold friend neighbour often involves giving symbolic gift salt less common today coal shortbread whisky black bun rich fruit cake intended bring different kind luck householder food drink gift given guest may go throughout early morning hour next day although modern day see people visiting house well middle january firstfoot supposed set luck rest year traditionally tall darkhaired men preferred firstfoot example local hogmanay custom fireball swinging take place stonehaven aberdeenshire northeast scotland involves local people making ball chicken wire filled old newspaper stick rag dry flammable material diameter foot attached foot wire chain nonflammable rope old town house bell sound mark new year ball set alight swinger set high street mercat cross cannon back swinging burning ball around head go end ceremony fireball still burning cast harbour many people enjoy display large crowd flock see attending event recent year additional attraction added entertain crowd wait midnight fire poi pipe band street drumming firework display last fireball cast sea festivity streamed live internet another example fire festival burning clavie town burghead moray east coast fishing community dundee firstfooters carried decorated herring falkland fife local men marched torchlight procession top lomond hill midnight approached baker st andrew baked special cake hogmanay celebration known cake day distributed local child institution also tradition example amongst scottish regiment officer waited men special dinner bell old year piped barrack gate sentry challenge new escort outside gate go answer new year alls well old custom highland celebrate hogmanay saining scot protecting blessing household livestock early new year morning householder drink sprinkle magic water dead living ford around house dead living ford refers river ford routinely crossed living dead sprinkling water every room bed inhabitant house sealed tight branch juniper set fire carried throughout house byre juniper smoke allowed thoroughly fumigate building cause sneezing coughing among inhabitant door window flung open let cold fresh air new year woman house administers restorative whisky bottle household sits new year breakfast hogmanay custom singing auld lang syne become common many country auld lang syne scot poem robert burn based traditional earlier source common sing circle linked arm crossed one another clock strike midnight new year day however intended participant link arm beginning final verse rushing centre group new year eve television programme white heather club presented herald hogmanay celebration show presented andy stewart always began singing come come nice see show always ended stewart cast singing haste ye back performer jimmy shand band ian powrie band scottish country dancer dixie ingram dixie ingram dancer joe gordon folk four james urquhart ann laura brand moira anderson kenneth mckellar male dancer andy stewart wore kilt female dancer wore long white dress tartan sash following demise white heather club andy stewart continued feature regularly tv hogmanay show retirement last appearance comedian andy cameron presented hogmanay show stv bbc scotland peter morrison presented show highland hogmanay stvgrampian axed many year staple new year eve television programming scotland comedy sketch show scotch wry featuring comedian rikki fulton invariably included hilarious monologue gloomy reverend im jolly since programme mainstay bbc scotland hogmanay hogmanay live jonathan watson footballthemed sketch comedy show excuse scotch presbyterian eloquence contained one first mention holiday official church record hogmanay treated general disapproval still scotland hogmanay new year day important christmas eve christmas day although christmas day held normal religious nature scotland amongst catholic episcopalian community presbyterian national church church scotland discouraged celebration christmas nearly year became public holiday scotland conversely january public holiday hogmanay still associated much celebration christmas scotland much world largest scottish city – glasgow edinburgh aberdeen – hold allnight celebration stirling inverness edinburgh hogmanay celebration among largest world celebration edinburgh – recognised guinness book record world largest new year party approximately people attendance number restricted due safety concern organised event cancelled short notice due high wind stonehaven fireball went ahead planned however people braving stormy weather watch fireball swinger process along high street similarly – celebration edinburgh glasgow stirling cancelled day due high wind heavy rain aberdeen celebration however went ahead opened pop music group wet wet wet many hogmanay festivity cancelled – – due covid pandemic scotland scot celebrate new year day special dinner usually steak pie historically present given scotland first monday new year roast dinner would eaten celebrate festival handsel word gift hence handsel day modern scotland practice died period festivity running christmas handsel monday including hogmanay neerday known daft day christmas scotland calennig last day year wale edinburgh hogmanay official site hogmanaynet origin history tradition hogmanay british newspaper archive december hogmanay traditional bonfire