For those that are not with us..

HOGMANAY & THE SCOTS

The Origins of Hogmanay
A guid New Year to ane an` a` and mony may ye see!
While New Year's Eve is celebrated around the world, the Scots have a long rich heritage associated with this event - and have their own name for it, Hogmanay.
There are many theories about the derivation of the word "Hogmanay". The Scandinavian word for the feast preceding Yule was "Hoggo-nott" while the Flemish words (many have come into Scots) "hoog min dag" means "great love day". Hogmanay could also be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon, Haleg monath, Holy Month, or the Gaelic, oge maidne, new morning. But the most likely source seems to be the French. "Homme est né" or "Man is born" while in France the last day of the year when gifts were exchanged was "aguillaneuf" while in Normandy presents given at that time were "hoguignetes". Take your pick!
In Scotland a similar practice to that in Normandy was recorded, rather disapprovingly, by the Church. "It is ordinary among some Plebians in the South of Scotland, to go about from door to door upon New Year`s Eve, crying Hagmane." Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence, 1693.

Historians believe that we inherited the celebration from the Vikings who, coming from even further north than ourselves, paid even more attention to the passing of the shortest day. In Shetland, where the Viking influence was strongest, New Year is called Yules, from the Scandinavian word.
It may not be widely known but Christmas was not celebrated as a festival and virtually banned in Scotland for around 400 years, from the end of the 17th century to the 1950s. The reason for this has its roots in the Protestant Reformation when the Kirk portrayed Christmas as a Popish or Catholic feast and therefore had to be banned. Many Scots had to work over Christmas and their winter solstice holiday was therefore at New Year when family and friends gathered for a party and exchange presents, especially for the children, which came to be called hogmanays.
There are traditions before midnight such as cleaning the house on 31st December (including taking out the ashes from the fire in the days when coal fires were common). There is also the superstition to clear all your debts before "the bells" at midnight.
"First footing" (that is, the "first foot" in the house after midnight) is still common in Scotland. To ensure good luck for the house, the first foot should be male, dark (believed to be a throwback to the Viking days when blond strangers arriving on your doorstep meant trouble) and should bring symbolic coal, shortbread, salt, black bun and whisky. These days, however, whisky and perhaps shortbread are the only items still prevalent (and available).

Happy Birthday Robert Burns!

Frae The Friends And Land I love

Burns Original

Standard English Translation

Frae The Friends And Land I love
1.
Frae the friends and land I love
Driv'n by Fortune's felly spite,
Frae my best belov'd I rove,
Never mair to taste delight!
Never mair maun hope to find
Ease frae toil, relief frae care.
When remembrance wracks the mind,
Pleasures but unveil despair.
2.
Brightest climes shall mirk appear,
Desert ilka blooming shore,
Till the Fates, nae mair severe,
Friendship, love, and peace restore;
Till Revenge wi' laurell'd head
Bring our banish'd hame again,
And ilk loyal, bonie lad
Cross the seas, and win his ain!

From The Friends And Land I love

From the friends and land I love
Driven by Fortune's relentless spite,
From my best beloved I rove,
Never more to taste delight!
Never more must hope to find
Ease from toil, relief from care.
When remembrance wracks the mind,
Pleasures but unveil despair.

Brightest climes shall gloomy appear,
Desert every blooming shore,
Till the Fates, no more severe,
Friendship, love, and peace restore;
Till Revenge with laureled head
Bring our banished home again,
And each loyal, handsome lad
Cross the seas, and win his own!

Irish Gaelic Cup Song..it is really cute: http://www.wimp.com/irishcups/

Welcome to our new member Melosea and to any other new member..

To all my Welsh friends!

)

Highland Coos

The Scott Monument

RIP George Donaldson of Celtic Thunder

We will miss you George...safe home!