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Post by whollygoats on Dec 26, 2020 22:27:53 GMT
So....With the New Year hovering in the near future, Hogmanay came to mind, and, just to educate myself, I reviewed it upon the wiki.
Amongst other tidbits (like 'Hogmina' in Cumberland), I picked up this bit:
"Hogmanay (Scots: [ˌhɔɡməˈneː];[1] English: /ˌhɒɡməˈneɪ/ HOG-mə-NAY[2]) is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year (Gregorian calendar) in the Scottish manner. It is normally followed by further celebration on the morning of New Year's Day (1 January) or, in some cases, 2 January—a Scottish bank holiday."
It speaks of celebration of the New Year "in the Scottish manner". The article later references first footing and 'setting one's balls afire'.
It seems to me from the descriptions, that "the Scottish manner" seems all over the map. Like, pick a place on the map and they'll have some idiosyncratic observance of dubious provenance in which they participate. First footing takes but a moment, but the holiday is described as lasting from December 31 through January 2. What do the Scots do with all the rest of those three days?
I guess my question is, "Is there a basic core of traditional observance, beyond first footing, of how to properly observe Hogmanay 'in the Scottish manner'?"
Sub-text: Do I need to obtain another bottle of single malt Scotch before the 31st?
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Post by tangent on Dec 26, 2020 23:00:23 GMT
"In the Scottish manner" is usually equated to lots of drinking, so yes you need at least another bottle of single malt.
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Post by whollygoats on Dec 27, 2020 3:33:19 GMT
Heh...I note that you didn't even bother to ask how many I already had.
Just, "Yes, get another bottle."
And, I refuse to set my balls afire and then rush smoldering through town before dousing them in the harbour.
That's just so 'beyond the wall'. Haggis is one thing, but I'm just not that Scots.
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Post by Mari on Dec 29, 2020 11:57:34 GMT
I laughed at that visual... Why would any sane person set their balls on fire anyhow? Must be a notion conceived on that 3rd day of drinking. Come to think of it: new years dive is a thing too...
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Post by tangent on Dec 29, 2020 13:06:15 GMT
Not me, I'm willing to drink the scotch but not endanger my ability to procreate.
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Post by whollygoats on Dec 29, 2020 14:20:20 GMT
tangent....I think that horse has left the barn.
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Post by whollygoats on Dec 29, 2020 14:23:24 GMT
If I read aright, the ball-burners were to hoist the burning balls high above their heads and twirl them around in their progress through town. That's far beyond my capabilities.
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Post by whollygoats on Dec 29, 2020 17:32:27 GMT
So...The best I can determine, Hogmanay is a three-day bender where everybody gets 24-hour start before randomly wandering the streets and byways, visiting whomever.
Along the way, celebrants get in to all manner of hijinx...sorta like a communal enacting of Jackass. Only more drunk.
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Post by tangent on Dec 29, 2020 21:03:06 GMT
This year Nicola Sturgeon is hoping that Hogmanay will be considerably muted.
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Post by whollygoats on Dec 30, 2020 0:14:32 GMT
Yeah, I suspect 'First Footing' ain't gonna happen until much later, like May.
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Post by Moose on Dec 30, 2020 23:49:22 GMT
We will First Foot tomorrow .. bread, salt, coal, silver and all that
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Post by tangent on Dec 31, 2020 1:20:34 GMT
Shouldn't Colin be first footing just after midnight on Friday?
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Post by whollygoats on Dec 31, 2020 15:30:41 GMT
Shouldn't Colin be first footing just after midnight on Friday? Yes, very late Thursday, into very early Friday morn. First footing, as I understand it, starts at the strike of midnight tolling in the new year.
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Post by Moose on Dec 31, 2020 22:54:48 GMT
WG is right - he will leave the house on the Thursday and return on the Friday.
Unless I feel evil and I lock the door and turn the TV up load.
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