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On New Years Eve, in Scotland called hogmany, my mother made sure that "things" were how she would want them to be all year round. That they would start on a happy note and that would last all year. She was brought up to believe this was the way it worked and if you were in debt at New Year you would be in debt all year round, or if your house was dirty at New Year it would be dirty all year round. Bad luck would fall on them that had dirty houses and were in debt….today we may be bailing them out given the circumstances.
On Hogmany my mother insisted on cleaning and making sure that the New Year would be welcomed into a clean and tidy house and good luck would be ours. This practice was called the redding (getting ready for the New Year). I didn’t know that in my younger years. I just knew it was essential and had to be done or bad luck would befall us. I wasn’t sure if that was the plague or what, but that was the vision and fear in my head.
Of course some of it has rubbed off on me to make sure things are the best they can be on New Years Eve…but I think I am like that all the year round. Here is what I remember…
1. Make sure all the bills were paid. In those days you didn't pay them on-line or even by mail. You went into the office and paid in person and got a receipt. So if there was a bill that was not paid someone was getting on a bus and taking care of that, although I don’t remember any tardiness with that. The electric and gas were paid by meter right in the home, so it was vital that there was enough coinage in the event more than usual was required. Later the electric and gas boards took out the meters and people paid their bills at the local office which was a bus ride away and that was an extra cost…dragging 3-4 children to another town to pay a bill. How easy do we have it now.
2. All bed linens were changed in the morning having been on the washing line drying outside the day before whether frosty or not. Sometimes they froze and we would all go out and help take them in, stiff as boards, and once they thawed they were folded and put up on the “pulley” to dry out. The “pulley” was a drying rack that was on a system that lowered it to a reachable height to drape the clothing/ linens etc over it and then raise it again to sit near the kitchen ceiling to dry with the heat of the house/kitchen. The smell of fresh air on those frozen garments was twice as strong, delicious. Once dry or near dry they were ironed. Electric irons were not on the market or if they were we didn’t have one. The heavy cast iron “iron” was put on the gas stove to warm up…the smell of ironing then is not what it is today. Fresh scents filled the air.
3.All cleaning was done leading up to the last day of the year but the garbage needed to be taken out before 12 midnight and that meant the ashes from the fireplace had to be cleaned out too…so earlier in the night they were put in the tin bucket to cool before being taken to the “bin” and what was left for the rest of the night was acceptable. Some people read their ashes like they read tea leaves…my Mum would do this very occasionally giving it her best shot and if she knew something was to take place in the future she would read it in for fun ( tomorrow a very delicious steak pie will be enjoyed by all).
4. Then all had to be bathed and clean clothes or night clothes on and although we were not going to “the ball”…it felt special.
5. Before midnight my father took out the glasses and a very small bottle of whiskey to toast the New Year. I recall this when I was about 9 years old and I don't think it happened every year...maybe when they could afford it. He didn’t drink normally but this was obviously a treat for him. We all got a very small “taste” which didn’t go down too well as he toasted the New Year in. Whiskey seems to be an acquired taste even today. It was usually Lemonade or Orange Crush we got for any toast.
6. At the stroke of midnight known as "the bells" a window would be lifted to let the old year out and the front door would be open to let the New Year in. You could hear the church bells ringing it was like magic how this all came together. If you had a back door then that would be opened to let the old year out. We would sing Auld Lang Syne ( words below) and it was common for people (the first footers) to be on the street whether it was freezing, raining or whatever. It was good luck if your first foot (the person to put the first foot of the year over your threshold) was a man, dark and tall (I think this had something to do with blond Viking men being trouble in the old days). If you had a tall dark and handsome man in your household then you sent him out before midnight with some coal and shortbread and then opened the door to him at one minute past 12 midnight guaranteeing your luck. It was a cold stand to wait for that door opening . The fire would be roaring as they say and food on the table would include shortbread,jellies and some cherry bun. The steak pie would be prepared for the next days dinner ( great smell wafting through the house). If finances were good the butcher would make the steak pie. You would hand in your dish with your name on it. If he didn’t do a good job the year before or finances were tight you made your own. My mother made a mean steak pie and the years the butcher made it we knew immediately and although it gave my mother a break and she thought this was the modern way it was much better getting her home made version.
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!
And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!
It is also believed to be lucky to be in the company of family and friends (of course) and all houses were open to visitors. Forgiveness was a big thing and family feuds (usually trivial situations) had to be put behind them to ensure a lucky and joyous New Year.
In the 60’s/ 70's people watched T.V. shows like the White Heather Club with Andy Stewart that were on from 10 o’clock to 12 midnight when all celebrated the New Year in tartan and “Auld Lang Syne”. I recall being in Canada and being on the phone for the Scottish New Year which was 7 o’clock our time to my brother. You had phone early to get a line, and staying on the phone until it was New Year according to the White Heather club. He turned up the sound and we enjoyed it across the pond…how costly was that. But I do still remember it and it was the next best thing to being there with family. At the end of the show Andy Stewart sang “ Haste Ye Back”
Haste ye back, we loue you dearly,
Call again you're welcome here.
May your days be free from sorrow,
And your friends be ever near.
May the paths o'er which you wander,
Be to you a joy each day.
Haste ye back we loue you dearly,
Haste ye back on friendship's way.
Lang may YOUR lum reek”!! Happy blogging in 2011 and "haste ye back".
2 comments:
Our traditions in England are much the same, although Scotland is famous for its New Year celebrations! Our first footer goes out through the back door to let out the old year, and comes in through the front, to a piece of coal and some salt, and whisky of course. I remember hearing the church bells but also all the sirens from the ships on the river. Everybody would be outside shouting across greetings to neighbours. There is less made of it all now I fear. Good old Andy Stewart!! Irene xxx
What wonderful Traditions!
We don't have any not sure why,they weren't passed down. But then it just depends whether myself and the DH are tired or not, as this year we went to bed at 11pm, the kids weren't happy about that!
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