SCOTS' HOGMANAY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 83, 31 December 1937, Page 10

SCOTS' HOGMANAY

New Year Customs and Ceremonial "FIRST FQ0TING,, Wkile Christmas is not observed to a very great extent in Scotland, Hogmanay (New Year) is made the occasion for exercising tke social virtues to tke fullest. There was no exemption from the influence of Hogmanay, Charity, hospitality, and brotkerly kindness abounded— *intemperance, alas, also, and little wonder, for "treating" waB the rule in every house. "The crook" of the house — chimney, couples, and joists — were garlanded with seaweed gatkered at ebb tide. Then the young men set off, accompanied by a band, demanding admission at farm and cottage alike, collecting alms for the poor, The "guidwif e, ' ' hearing the approach of the band, armed herself with a besom. When the knock came, she opened the door suddenly and brought her broom down over the head of the leader. This was to show that she was ready to defend her house against importunate beggars. To express their friendly intentions, however, they then struck up the "Thiggars' " chant: — "The gweed New Year is now begun, Besouthen, besouthenl An' a' the beggars begin to run, An ' awa ' by southron toon. "We wish you a' a gweed New Year, Besouthen, besouthen! Wi' werth o' health an' dainty cheer, An' awa' by southron toon. "Oor shoon are made o' the red coo's hide, Besouthen, besouthen! Oor feet are cauJd, we canna bide, An' awa' by southron toon," The "guidwife'v then threw open the door and invited the company to enters — Come in, come ben, ye're welcome here Besouthen, besouthen! Ye'll get. a share o' oor New Year cheer, An' awa' by southron toon. " There 's plenty here, baith but an' ben, Besouthen, besouthen! An' something in the tappit hen, An' awa' by southpn toon." Nettle Stings. First-footing was accompanied by nettle-burning. For some time previously the young folk were on the outlook for a good fresh bunch of ne> tles. When they found one, they guarded its whei;eabouts with great secrecy. He was the victor who could strike the iirst blow on hands or feet. Some wily youths, rising early on New Year's mornjng, secreted themselves underneath the beds of their unfortunate victims. Then the sleeper, on giving a morning stretch, received a severe sting on his feet. During the day, ba' playing was indulged in by the men and boys, while the women went along f>o the miller's barn to have themselves weighed. No one would awaken another on New Year's morning in case he brought him bad luck. But the early riser was rewarded. The one who drew "the flower of the well" was assured of good luck all the year, And if he mgt a dark-haired person first on his way there, he was doubly lucky. A present of fish was an omen of good fortune. In fishing villages the Ashers carried fire torches round about their boats on Hobmanay nigbt to prevent ill-luck following them into the New Year. He who landed the first fish on New Year's Day had all the luck of the village, But the first fish that fell off his line that morning was put baclc into the sea, because }t would otherwise ehange his luck. Burning of the Clavie. In Lerwick, in the Shetland Isles, and in Burghead, in Morayshire, the festive days.concluded with "the burning of the clavie. " This custom was discontinued in Lerwick sorne thirty or forty years ago. In Burghead it is still observed^ On Old Yule night, as darkness falls, ,the young men get a couple of strong, empty barrels aud a supply of tar. A strong pole five feet long is inserted into position. Oue barrel is broken up and placed inside the other one; the tar is poured over it, and set on fire by a blazing peat. The burning clavie is then carried' in prp cession round the old boundaries of the burgkj followed by a great crowd of onlookers| It is then taken to the top of the Doorie Hill, and set upon a stone structure specially built for the purpose, It . is alldwed tp burn for about twenty-flve minutes; then the barrel ip lifted from its socket anfi rolled dpwn to the western side of the hill. Everyone rushes furiously to eapture the blazing faggots, which are carefully preserved to ward off misfortune through the ensuipg year. Scott loved these qpaint old observances. Lockhart says that the wliole of the ancient ceremonial of the festive days obtained respect at Abbotsford. It was uncanny, and Scott would certainly have felt it very uncomfortable not to welcome the New Year in the midst of his family and a few old friends, wjth an immemorial libation of a "hcit pint"; but of all the consecrated ceremonies of the time, none gave him such delight' as the visit which he received as laird from all the children on his estate, on the lat morning of every December, when — "The cottage bairns sang blithe an' m At the ha' door for Hogmanay."