Hogmanay

Hogmanay is the name given to New Year's Eve in Scotland, although in practical terms it is used to describe the whole of the New Year celebrations, which may carry on into 2nd January, as this is also a national holiday.

The origins of Hogmanay date back many centuries. The celebration itself is a mixture of traditions taken from various sources, almost all with Pagan roots, including aspects of the Norse Winter Solstice, Samhain (the Gaelic/Irish new year festivities), Saturnalia (from pagan Roman days), and the Viking Yule (Christmas). These have all combined to make Hogmanay a unique celebration.

There are many customs and traditions associated with Hogmanay. Probably the most common is "first-footing" which takes place (usually) immediately after midnight. The first person to enter the home ought to be a tall, dark, handsome man bearing gifts (such as coal, shortbread, whisky, black bun - a fruit pudding - or salt) which symbolise the gift of different kinds of good luck to the householder. Food and drink is then offered to the first-footer in exchange.

Another tradition was the giving of gifts by employers on the first Monday of the New Year. Parents also gave children gifts on this day. This was known as "Handsel day" after the name for a gift box. Around Scotland there are also many other localised customs and traditions.

During Hogmanay there is normally much eating and whisky drinking. Some Scots make a point of wearing traditional dress (kilts) at this time, especially if they happen to be attending formal parties and celebrations, although in general most do not.

Around the world the traditional poem by Roberts Burns, Auld Lang Syne, is sung to commemorate the passing of the old year and the welcoming of the new immediately after the chime of midnight.

New Year’s Holiday – Scotland – 2nd January

In Scotland, New Year’s Day has been a Bank Holiday for many years in place of Boxing Day (although in modern times that was more of a technicality than a reality) as the Hogmanay celebration, which continues into the "wee hours" of 1st January, was seen as the most important festival of the year.

In 1974, New Year’s Day was made a Public and Bank Holiday in England and Wales, and in compensation, 2nd January was made a Public and Bank Holiday in Scotland.

There is no significance and no specific celebration on this date.

When either 1st January or 2nd January fall on a Saturday or Sunday then that holiday is carried forward to the Monday and/or Tuesday so as to give two weekdays' holiday.