Despite being less than a week ago, Christmas is already beginning to feel like a distant memory. Now, Scots are all thinking about Hogmanay. Whether you are staying home or heading out with loved ones, there is no wrong way to ring in the new year.
However, there are certain things people in Scotland have done on December 31 and January 1 for hundreds of years. Some of them are still practised to this very day.
As we previously reported, Christmas was outlawed in Scotland for many years amidst the backdrop of the Scottish Reformation. As a result, Scots began to shift their celebrations to Hogmanay instead — which is why there are more New Year’s traditions in the country compared to Christmas.
From redding the house to first footing, the Daily Record has rounded up some of the top historic Scottish Hogmanay and New Year’s practices. After reading through the list, you might even want to take part in one or two yourself.
Read on for a summary of some of the most weird and wonderful Scottish Hogmanay and New Year’s traditions.
Redding the house
Despite the name, redding the house does not involve covering your home in red paint. Instead, it is actually a tradition that many Scots already do without realising it.
It refers to the act of cleaning your home ahead of the new year, since it was thought to be bad luck to start a year with a dirty home. People would also clear all of their debts on December 31, so that they didn’t have any outstanding loans going into January 1.
Saining
The Scots word ‘saining’ means ‘to bless or protect’, and this tradition involves drinking and then sprinkling ‘blessed’ water around your home. The practice is still carried out by some Scots to this day.
Scots would then burn juniper branches with the aim of filling their house with smoke. It was believed that this cleansed the home, as well as those living in it — banishing evil spirits ahead of the new year.
To cap off the tradition, Scots would fully open all of their doors and windows to allow fresh air into their house so they could start the year anew. Finally, they would enjoy a customary dram of whisky.
First footing
Among the more recognisable Scots New Year’s traditions, many people still take part in First Footing. It has long been believed that the first visitor to enter your home after midnight on December 31 will determine your luck for the year ahead.
According to legend, you will have the best luck if it is a tall and dark-haired man. It is thought that this goes all the way back to the time of the Vikings, when a blond-haired male showing up at your front door was not good news.
Meanwhile, it was also customary for your first guest to bring with them gifts. These included coal, coins, whisky, and black buns.
Auld Lang Syne
If there is only one Scottish Hogmanay custom you know, it is probably this. Auld Lang Syne is sung all over the world on December 31, and its words come from a poem penned by Robert Burns in the 18th century.
The phrase ‘auld lang syne’ means ‘times long since’, and the song is fittingly all about looking back at the year gone by and celebrating old friendships. As you might have seen, it is traditional in Scotland for those singing Auld Lang Syne to join hands and form a big circle.
New Year’s Day steak pie
One of the more unusual Scottish New Year traditions is the eating of a steak pie on January 1, which goes back generations. You might assume that it began as a way to help with the Hogmanay hangover, but its roots haven’t ever been fully confirmed.
However, it is believed that the tradition may be explained by the fact that New Year’s Day has only been a public holiday in Scotland for a few centuries. Before this, Scots did not have time to prepare an elaborate meal to celebrate the first day of the year, and so would simply purchase a large pie from their local butcher.
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