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| Hogamanay celebration in Edinburgh, Scotland |
While
researching my Highland Games Through Time series, I filled binders with
oodles of neat facts. I thought I would share a few things I learned about
Hogmanay.
My
books take place in both modern day New England as well as sixteenth century
Scotland. Hogmanay (also spelled Hogamany or Hogamanay) is the Scots term for the last day of the year, the day we
all now celebrate as New Year’ Eve. Like
many of us lucky enough to have the following day ‘off’, Hogmanay also includes
celebrating all the way through the next day and, sometimes, through January 2nd.
When
I looked deeper into the origin of Hogmanay, I found that many scholars believe
that the holiday has its roots in ancient times when the Nordic tribes acknowledged
the Winter Solstice, the Vikings enjoyed the Yule, and Scots celebrated
Samhain.
One
of the first things I ever read was a folk tale that mentioned the first guest
who walked across your home’s threshold after midnight on the last day of the
year. Some call this first-footing. Since hubby and I usually head to bed once
the ball drops in New York City (watched from our North Carolina home, where
the split screen also shows the NC Acorn drop) we rarely think about whom the
first person is that enters our home in the New Year. This year I will take
note!
I
am still confused about what this first-footing person does for us. Further
research says that the Scots exchange certain gifts, and what I read made me
laugh. These gifts include salt, coal, shortbread (yum), and fruit cake (yuck).
Then
I came across an interesting tidbit that mentioned another gift the Scots share
with their neighbors on Hogmanay…whisky! Now, that is a Scottish tradition
worth continuing!
Happy
Hogmanay!
Nancy
Lee Badger
More About the
Author
Nancy Lee Badger
loves chocolate-chip shortbread, wool
plaids wrapped around the trim waist of a Scottish Highlander, the clang of
dirks and broadswords, and the sound of bagpipes in the air. After growing up
in Huntington, New York, and raising two handsome sons in New Hampshire, Nancy
moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time. Nancy is a member of
Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers,
Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, and the Celtic Heart
Romance Writers. Nancy and her family volunteer each fall at the New Hampshire
Highland Games and she is a proud Army Mom.
Find out more at:
Latest Release: My
Banished Highlander
Series:
Book #2 of the Highland Games Through Time
Genre:
Scottish Time Travel Romance
Length:
82,000 word Novel
Buy Links:
