As the year draws to a close, people across the world eagerly anticipate New Year’s celebrations, and in Scotland everyone is gearing up for the coveted Hogmanay celebrations!
But what exactly is Hogmanay and how did it become such an integral part of Scottish cultural festivities?
Hogmanay is a series of festive traditions that mark the New Year in Scotland, including fireworks displays, torchlit processions and street parties. It has a rich history dating back to the invading vikings in the 8th and 9th centuries who would celebrate the Winter Solstice with a Yule festival that honoured existing Celtic traditions.
There is some ambiguity surrounding the exact origins of Hogmanay, though historians believe that it has been most heavily influenced by the Protestant Reformation that began in the 16th century. Christmas was strongly associated with Catholic tradition and so was unofficially banned by the Scotland Kirk in 1560 and cemented by a prohibition act in 1640.
This meant New Year’s Eve became the main Winter celebration in Scotland and Hogmanay was established as a cherished representation of new beginnings still marked by practices like the ‘First-Footing’, ‘Redding’, and everyone joining in singing Auld Lang Syne at midnight!
Come to the SRR and find out more about Scottish history and have a look at the Christmas display created by one of the SRR volunteers on the third floor to get you into the festive spirit!
