Hogmanay

I'd be happy to sacrifice Jools Holland and his oh-so-predictable Hoots a Nanny tv programme on New Year's Eve. It's as excruciating to watch as the old Jimmy Shand Hogmanay Show.

Varian for the last twenty six years in our wee cul de sac, since our houses were built, we have always celebrated Hogmany with our neighbours. We had already known each other before we moved in, as all our children were school friends or we had known each other from school. The parties were legendary with a meal at midnight, games and everyone having to do a party piece.
As the children got older, they would be in one house and the adults in another.

This year we will probably stand on the doorstep and wish each other a happy new year, glad to see the back of this one.

Being the Sassenach that I am, Hogmanay is something Gaelic, probably means, the last day of the year. My wife and I have always gone to one of those, dressed up to the nine's, ballroom events, where we dance until midnight, then the balloons come down and we pop them all and everyone pretends to know the words to Auld Lang Syne. The merriment carries on until the early hours.

My wife always keeps me close, she can't bare those creeps who use the festivities for social kissing, especially as they have probably had a skinful.

I just hope there's no fireworks in our area but I won't hold my breath

I have a small dog who gets into a real tizz

We're not doing anything. But we seldom do anyway. I'm more of a Christmas person.

It will start in the morning with everything that stands still being cleaned ,Windows .floors ,new bedding, food prepared for midnight .Bins emptied at five to twelve and windows opened to let the new year in .

My OH will first foot us at midnight ,he'll bring in coal and salt and whisky and black bun .Its the coal and salt my father first footed us with 46 Hogmanays ago.We'll pour a dram from the bottle and wish each other and MIL A guid New Year.Its not remotely like all the other Hogmanays but hopefully there will be a better year ahead.

Over the tears we’ve done house parties, pub parties, a lot of them themed fancy dress. The last few years we have had friends round for a meal. This year, DH and me, something good to eat, a couple of crackers left, maybe something on the TV. A more fervent toast to 2021 than we would usually have for the New Year.

We've never liked Hogmanay and usually go to bed at our usual time. TV is invariably dire.
New Year's day is a nice time to open some bubbly and listen to the concert from Vienna. We usually invite our nieghbour over to join us. Not this year though. We're really trying our very best to stick to all guidelines. Just hope everyone else does too.

Steak pie and peas. What else. DH refuses to first foot, he “has a shower” , not even I would force him out into the snow in his dressing gown!

I had to look up black bun, strange that I have never heard of it.

Looks very nice, cake and pastry together.

Oh yes, paddyanne I too will be following the tradition and cleaning the house. For the first time in years, I won’t be seeing in the New Year with a family party but the OH and I will see out the old and welcome the new. I like the prospect of new starts. The local authority is putting on a fireworks display from the Wallace Monument and it will be televised. We are under strict instructions to stay home and we will. I am not going to add to the statistics if I can avoid it.

What I didn't make clear is we will all stand on our own doorsteps and shout across the road to each other. My neighbours, who have been good friends for over thirty years, all know I cannot be anywhere near people anyway, as I'm shielding. No problem at all sticking to the guidelines.

I have never first footed anyone in my life, because being redhead, I would bring bad luck!?

We will be staying in. Sticking to T4 guidelines. We will raise a glass to Brexit (sorry, but it’s true - for us) and the NY. Hoping 2021 brings the vaccine for all who want it and peace of mind for us all. x

We will be in bed and asleep. The days are long enough at the moment as it is. The New Year will still be there in the morning.

"Being the Sassenach that I am, Hogmanay is something Gaelic, probably means, the last day of the year."
Spangler: No-one actually knows the derivation of the word "Hogmanay". It is attributed to words in Norse, Anglo-Saxon, Flemish, French and (indeed) Gaelic. I grew up in a Gaelic-speaking community the North of Scotland, and New Year was never referred to as "Hogmanay". The old year was ushered out to the sound of gunfire, as every rifle, shotgun and pop-gun in the village was discharged into the sky - after which the young men started on a door-to-door binge which generally lasted well into the next day. The rest of the popular "Hogmanay" first-footing related traditions involving black bun, coal etc were considered to be largely the preserve of Lowland Scots (Sassenachs).

Parsley If I walk the few yards to the end of the road I will be able to see the Fireworks at Wallace's Monument. If I am lucky some of my neighbours will be out to see them too, so I will wear my mask and shout 'Bliadhna Mhath Ur' to them from a suitable distance.

I am a Scouser with Scots Irish Welsh and other heritage. Whether it’s Hogmanay or New Year I wish for all of us everywhere a better year than 2020.

I don’t like new year s eve so generally take myself off to bed at the normal time and wake up when it’s over.
However our village Facebook page is advising us that a lady on the estate will be setting up her microphone and speakers in her garden to sing Auld Lang Syne and inviting us to join in!! Oh my days I can’t bear it .... Earplugs are called for methinks ... ?