From Edinburgh’s famous street party to spectacular fireworks and ancient old traditions, Scottish New Year – known as Hogmanay – offers a fun-filled way to ring in the new year.
For those looking to partake in some Scottish New Year traditions then a visit to Scotland is a must. Indeed, Hogmanay attracts visitors from all over the world, with many opting to rest their heads at a selection of luxury resorts in Scotland, including the fabulous CLC Duchally Country Estate, where guests can celebrate the New Year with traditional Hogmanay food.
The New Year has traditionally been celebrated with great gusto in Scotland to make up for the fact that Christmas celebrations were banned until 1958. Instead the Scots put all their efforts into celebrating the New Year, now the largest celebration in Scotland. Indeed, when it comes to having a good time, especially at New Year, nobody celebrates quite like the Scots.
Here are some of the most famous Scottish New Year traditions
Edinburgh’s famous street party
Dubbed the world’s best street party here you are in the thick of all the action! Party under the stars with a roster of bands, DJs and street performers from all over the world, capped-off with a spectacular choreographed fireworks show. This year’s street party will raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity, the world’s largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally, making this not only a great Scottish New Year tradition, but a purposeful one too.
Swimming the Loony Dook
Held every year on New Year’s Day, revellers gather at the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry to brave the icy waters. The event was started in 1986 by three locals who joked it would make a good hangover cure for the Hogmanay festivities. Fast forward more than three decades and this Scottish New Year tradition attracts thousands of people, while also raising money for a good cause.
Hogmanay food
Good food and wine are central to Scottish New Year traditions. One of the most popular dishes is black bun, a fruit cake filled with raisins, currants, almonds, citrus peel, allspice, ginger and cinnamon, then wrapped in pastry. Pair it with lots of whisky! Other popular Hogmanay foods include haggis, Scotland’s national dish, typically served with neeps and tatties, along with tipsy laird, a trifle laced in whisky.
First Footing
First Footing – or the first foot in the house after midnight – is an ancient tradition where it is considered good luck if the first person across the threshold in the New Year is a tall dark man carrying a gift of some sort. Today, this Scottish New Year tradition is still honoured across much of Scotland, especially in smaller villages in the Highlands. Woe betide any home where the first guest is a female or a fair-haired man, considered a bad omen!
Redding the house
A Scottish New Year tradition, Redding the house is essentially giving it a good spring clean. Typically done on New Year’s Eve in preparation for the celebrations, Redding the house ensure that it is spick and span for the New Year.
Singing Auld Lang Syne
Written by Robert Burns in 1788 this poem is set to a traditional folk song and sung at New Year’s Eve when the clock strikes midnight. While a Scottish New Year tradition, Auld Lang Syne is now sung at New Year festivities throughout the world.
Wherever and however you choose to celebrate Hogmanay in Scotland you are guaranteed a brilliant time. To explore some of the great places you can stay at during Hogmanay, visit your nearest CLC World Travel Centre.
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