New Year Breaks in Scotland
Hogmanay – a very special time in Scotland. No-one celebrates New Year like the Scots!
In England we celebrate on New Year Eve but are then back at work on January 2nd. Not so in Scotland – the celebrations are such that an extra day’s holiday is required to recover!
It is not widely known, but Christmas was banned in Scotland for almost 400 years until the 1950s. The Protestant Reformation in the 17th century was responsible for this – Christmas was seen as a Popish or Catholic feast and banned by the Kirk. So people celebrated instead at New Year with a party and present giving. Thus began the great Scottish New Year tradition!
New Year celebrations always include the countdown to midnight and then a rendition of ‘Auld Lang Syne’. This wonderful little song was penned by Robert Burns and is traditionallly sung whilst holding hands with your fellow party goers.
First Footing is still popular in Scotland – indeed I have experienced it for myself, the last guest not leaving till dawn!! To bring good luck to the house, the first foot after midnight should be a dark man (no blond Vikings welcome!) and he, and all guests, should bring with them a little present, be it whisky, shortbread, flowers or whatever. Good luck is then assured for the next year!
So where can you go to experience a traditional Scottish <a href=”http://www.scottish-inns.co.uk/ChristmasNewYearBreaks.htm”> New Year</a>? Most country hotels and inns offer New Year breaks and of course, the Edinburgh hotels offer New Year breaks in the capital city, famous for the huge street party that takes place in the city centre every New Years Eve.
A New Year break in the country in a cosy inn or hotel, with crackling log fire to keep the winter chill out, is also very popular. Most hotels offer entertainment on New Years Eve, be it a casino night, dancing, murder mystery or a sumptuous banquet. And at midnight of course, a wee dram and Auld Lang Syne!
Deborah Johnson
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