Dear pupils,

Hogmanay is the celebration of the New Year in the Scottish manner. It’s celebrated on the 31st of December, and it lasts through the morning of the 1st or even the 2nd of January!

An integral part of the Hogmanay partying, which continues very much today, is to welcome friends and strangers, with warm hospitality and of course a kiss to wish everyone a Guid (in good company) New Year. This is a way to clear out the vestiges of the old year, have a clean break and welcome in a young, New Year. “First footing” (that is, the “first foot” in the house after midnight) is still common in Scotland. To ensure good luck for the house, the first foot should be male, dark  and should bring symbolic coal, shortbread, salt, black bun and whisky.

Click on the image and listen to “For Auld Lang Syne“, specially sung in Scotland on Hogmanay.