THE ORIGINS AND PRACTICE OF HOGMANAY

Cameron Kippentoeslayer2000@yahoo.com.au

Etymology

Hogmanay was first recorded in 1604 inthe Elgin Records as hagmonay (delatit tohaue been singand hagmonayis onSatirday); and again in 1692 in an entryof the Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence, "Itis ordinary among some plebeians in theSouth of Scotland to go about from doorTo door upon New-years Eve, cryingHagmane."

The etymology of hogmanay remainsobscure and may arise from a French,Norse or a Goidelic (Insular Celtic) root.

The Festival of the Dead

In the old Celtic calendar, New Year fell on the 1st

November and was called Samhain.

This was an unreal time, when one year turnedinto another. A twilight zone where spirits of thedead and those not yet born walked freely amongthe living.

It was a time of plenty as the stocks werereturned from the hills before the severe winterahead and a great time for kinship as the hilldwellers came to the gathering.

Remnants of the Festival of the Dead are found throughout the Celtic and Hispanic world and lastfrom Halloween to New Year.

Samhain

When Lun the Sun God was defeated by

his darker side he became the Lord of

Misrule.

Good people needed the comfort oftheir own kind and protection from

theEvil forces of the dark.

Much of the sacred symbolism ofSamhaimn can be found in thecustoms of Halloween and

Hogmanay.

Lord of Misrule or the Ghost of Christmas Past

First Footing

In the New Year many cultures believedthe first foot to cross the thresholdbrought the house good fortune for thecoming year.

Suspicious people refused to leave theirhome until they were first footed.

"First footing" is a Celtic custom andtradition demands the first person after

thebells to enter the house must be a sonsy(trustworthy); a stranger of dark

complexion;and carry a luck talisman.

A person with fair complexion

brought bad luck.

The Talisman

Bearing gifts as a good luck charm for the

year ahead is an old Viking custom.

In Scotland this involved: Black Bun ( a pastry covered rich

currentcake); and a wassail (hot toddy) to represent food

andsustenance for the coming year.

Combined with coal to symbolized good

luck and prosperity.

Arched foot

In the Isle of Man (UK) a goodfirst footer was a man of

handsome appearance and dark complexionwith in-steps high enough to allow

amouse to run through.

The significance of the arched footremains unclear but early

Christiansbelieved men were made in theimage of God and the Christian

Foothad a perfect arch.Flat feet or splayed feet were considered

the sign of evil and unlucky omens

The Evil Foot

Functional feet were important tothe early Christians as walking was the only means to spreadthe Gospel. Subsequently wellformed feet became associatedwith joy and happiness. Literatureabounds with reference to this.

Prior to modern medicine illnessand deformity were regarded as aform of demonic possession.

After the Bells

The modern interpretation is after hearing the

New Year Bells , friends visit each other's

homes sharing goodwill and treating them to

intoxicating liquor.

The Celts held alcohol in very high esteem and

was an important part of ritual.

In the past first footing had practical purpose

which allowed everyone in the village to meet

the New Year with good cheer; and allow the

superstitious to leave their abode after being

first footed.

Ner’day Dinner

In Scotland families gather on Ner’day(New Year‘s Day) and feast like thetraditional Christmas Day.

This represents the modern “gathering ofthe clans, ” and certain foods are thoughtto bring good fortune for the New Year.These include a thick Scotch broth: SteakPie; and a Clootie dumpling (a sweetfruit pudding).

It is not uncommon in Celtic tradition tohave an extra place set at table forunexpected guests.

Auld Lang Syne

Auld Lang Syne is a traditionalayre given lyrics by RobertBurns but was not traditionallysang at Hogmanay until the

20th

century after it was played ata New Year celebration inNew York.

The sentiment expressed isperfect for the occasion andhas been associated ever

since.

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