Hogmanay – Scotland’s traditional answer to celebrating the New Year

 This blog post is loosely based on a dissertation completed for my final year at the University of Edinburgh and contains references to interviews conducted as part of field research.

We have all seen multiple new years. Whether you go out clubbing, watch the fireworks under a cosy blanket outside or stay at home and pretend that the new year isn’t coming your way – we all must go through the point of transition to a new year. However, in Scotland, there is something more to a new year’s celebration. Scotland prides itself on the tradition of Hogmanay – the Scottish concept word for a new year. Hogmanay encompasses both the day before and after the turning of the clock into a new January. The essence of a Hogmanay is also contained in the food we eat at this time of year, the music we listen to, the people we see and the traditions we partake in. 

A form of Hogmanay can be argued to have taken place since the Celts were located in Scotland and holds a huge importance to Scottish people of all ages. The focus of my dissertation were the Hogmanay traditions Scottish people, particularly in Fife, participated in during the the years 1950 – 2023. There are many traditions associated with a Hogmanay celebration including, but not limited to, first-footing, cleaning of the household and opening a new bottle of whisky. When I was researching these traditions for my dissertation, every one of the participants detailed just how important participating in these three traditions were thus they will be the ones I focus on here.

First-footing is one of Scotland’s unique Hogmanay traditions and it involves visiting neighbours and friends as soon as the clock turns past twelve. Essentially it is to be the ‘first foot’ inside another’s house in the New Year. This tradition is said to bring good luck to the family who receives the first foot as it is traditional for the ‘first-footer’ to bring gifts signalling prosperity in the New Year. Coal, shortbread and whisky were all gifts associated with this practice. One of my participants highlighted that coal was “significant to the fact that if you had a bit in your house, you always had heat and if you had a fire, you could cook.” This practice was something the older participants in my research absolutely loved, as it meant they saw the people they cared about as soon as it was the New Year and there was always something to look forward to on the night of Hogmanay. However, it has to be said that this practice is in decline and, I’m not sure about everyone else my age, but I definitely don’t partake. I would much rather be in a bar or cosy in someone’s house with my friends than walking around in the cold and dark to see my neighbours….. But as others used to love it so much and it seems like a really lovely practice, maybe our generation can start a comeback!

Depiction of First Footing in the London Illustrated News (1882)

Opening a new bottle is another very random Scottish act and during my dissertation research, I honestly couldn’t find a reason behind why it was conducted. But that being said, all of the participants enjoyed this one. As the clock strikes twelve, you open a new bottle and toast the new year in with a fresh drink. It doesn’t matter if the bottle of wine you were drinking from up until this point is only half finished, put it to the side and start fresh. A traditional ‘new bottle’ drink is often seen as whisky, however the practice in Fife placed the most importance on enjoyment. This position is based on the interviews that highlight that the Hogmanay bottle could have any beverage inside, including something non-alcoholic.

And although initially researched as distinct practices for my dissertation, the traditions of opening a new bottle and first footing have to be understood as reliant upon each other. The practices are connected considering a new bottle was opened inside the home at the bells, and then that same bottle was taken to neighbouring houses. A new bottle is opened in your home to toast the ‘New’ Year with your own family present. Then that same bottle was taken along as you first footed around the village. As you entered a house, it was common to share these New Year bottles. Both the first footer and the host would have a drink out of that New Year bottle.

Finally, cleaning of the household. This tradition is just as you imagine. A full and in-depth clean of the house – from washing all dishes and throwing away all rubbish to rubbing down the skirting boards and getting dust cleared from every shelf. This tradition is conducted in the few days before the turning of the bells, with smaller jobs conducted on New Years Eve itself. These seem to be the last minute jobs of making sure there are no dishes in the dishwasher, all bins are empty and there is no clutter lying around on the worktops. It is a physical reminder of entering the New Year correctly and making sure you are ready for the year ahead. One of the participants in my research told me it was “a way to clean the auld year out and usher the new year in”. This tradition seems to be the one that most people partake in today, with nearly everyone I speak to conducting some form of cleaning on New Year’s Eve.

And there we have it… A short overview of a traditional Scottish Hogmanay! A celebration of an incoming year and one where the traditions take centre stage. I would love to keep these traditions alive as so many people have taken such joy from them over the years. Hopefully whoever is reading this can take one of these traditions home with them and run with it – that would make for a fabulous Hogmanay 2024!

Esmé Finnie