Hogmanay, or New Year in Scotland

It turns out that the Scots did not celebrate Happy New Year, and Hogmanay. As for the origin of the word, the opinions of scholars are divided. Some see the connection with Gaelic phrase «oge maіden», which translated means — «a new morning.» Others claim that the word comes from the Flemish «hoog min dag» — a great day of love. Others draw a parallel with the Anglo-Saxon «haleg monath» — holy month — the holy month. And even though it is — not a complete list of options, the Scots do not really worry about it, and have fun celebrating. It begins, as usual, on December 31 and continues until the first or second of January. The first day of the new year has its special name — Ne’erday (New Year’s Day).

Fireworks (fireworks) are very popular in Scotland, during the celebrations of Hogmanay, while the British Firework Nights spend in November.

Another tradition — songs. Just after midnight (immediately after midnight) Scots sing «For Auld Lang Syne» (Old Long Since — The good old days). The words of the song written by Robert Burns. For those who do not know, Robert Burns — a Scottish poet, beloved by their countrymen. There is even a separate festival dedicated to this great man — Burns Night, which is usually celebrated on 25 January.

Verse of Robert Burns in the Scottish language (Scotts)	Translated into English	Translated into Russian Samuil Marshak
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne?	Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne?	Forget any old love And do not be sad about it? Forget any old love And the friendship of former days?
Chorus: For auld lang syne, my jo, for auld lang syne, we’ll tak a cup o ‘kindness yet, for auld lang syne.	Chorus: For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.	Chorus: For old friendship — to the bottom! For the happiness of former days! With you, we drink, old, For the happiness of former days.
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp! and surely I’ll be mine! And we’ll tak a cup o ‘kindness yet, for auld lang syne.	And surely you’ll buy your pint cup! and surely I’ll buy mine! And we’ll take a cup o ‘kindness yet, for auld lang syne.	Get plenty of clubs prepare And pour the brim. We drink to the old love, For the friendship of former days.
Chorus	Chorus	Chorus
We twa hae run about the braes, and pu’d the gowans fine; But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit, sin auld lang syne.	We two have run about the slopes, and picked the daisies fine; But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne.	Are you trampled two of us Native grass fields, But there is one steep climb We took the young days.
Chorus	Chorus	Chorus
We twa hae paidl’d i ‘the burn, frae morning sun till dine; But seas between us braid hae roar’d sin auld lang syne.	We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till diner; But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne.	We swam several times Are you over the stream. But the sea has divided us, Comrade young days …
Chorus	Chorus	Chorus
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere! and gie’s a hand o ‘thine! And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught, for auld lang syne.	And there’s a hand my trusty friend! And give us a hand o ‘thine! And we’ll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.	And we agreed with you again. Your hand — my. I drink to the old love, For the friendship of the old days!
Chorus	Chorus	Chorus

Vocabulary:

• Acquaintance — acquaintance → Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought in mind? — It is worth to you to forget old acquaintances, and never to forget?
• Kindness — kindness.
• Pint — pint (unit volume in the British measures, in the UK = 0.568 x 0.473 = US L).
• Pint cup — cup capacity 1 pint.
• Slope — the slope.
• Pick (up) — Cobiralas.
• Daisy — Daisy.
• Paddle — rowing.
• Stream — stream, river, creek.
• Roar — roaring.
• Dine — Lunch.
• Trusty — true.
• Hand o ‘thine — hand of yours (a form of «thine» used in verse).
• Draught — here — wind → take a right draught — catch a tailwind.
• Wander — ckitatsya, wander → we’ve wandered many a weary foot — and many have been our tired feet.
• Good-will — friendly, with good intentions.

Presenting your attention the video with the English version of the song performed by American singer Lea Michelle:

Now, if you like the song, you can sing it with guests. By the way, the Scots, when they sing this song in a circle (stand in a circle) and take each other’s hands, and the hands are held crosswise (with their hands crossed, holding hands with the people on either side of them).

Many of you are thinking, how in a special way you can celebrate the New Year? Those thoughts troubled Andy Kerr and Jim Kilcullen (Andy Kerr and Jim Kilcullen) on the eve of 1987. That took it into his head to two friends seemed to them a great way to «wash» New Year’s hangover (to CLEAR the new year’s hangover), but it soon became common tradition called Looney Dook. People c Scotland (and not only) gather in South Queensferry (South Queensferry), to plunge into ice water (to take the plunge into icy water) River Fort (Fourth). Now these brave souls even put different funny costumes (wear fancy dresses), and is preceded by a parade to dip (the grand parade precedes the plunge). In addition, it is — a charity event (charity event), which gathers tens of thousands of pounds (raise tens of thousands of pounds).

If you want to find out more or to participate, you here — www.theloonydook.co.uk. 🙂

Another custom associated with Hogmanay, called the first-footing (from the English the first — first, foot — foot). This practice will be effective immediately after midnight, and consists of the following: a person who crosses the threshold (srosses the threshold) home first must give the owners a piece of coal (a piece of coal) for good luck (to bring luck). But instead of coal is now sometimes bring a stone which it symbolizes. By the way, it was once very important to the house of the first to enter a tall, handsome man, brunette (tall, handsome black-haired man ). Its beauty symbolized good luck next year. But now it is no longer relevant. Whoever comes, guests are treated to whiskey (whisky), and ends up pleasing intercourse (socializing).

Edinburgh, capital of Scotland, is organizing the celebration for the whole night (holds all night celebrations), which belongs to one of the biggest in the world (are among the largest in the world). Well, if you have something you want to spend New Year here, do not forget that in order to witness many interesting events that you need to buy special tickets in advance (tickets).

 

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