Auld years night/Hogmanay traditions

[annie0000]

Just been chatting on Barmaids F&D thread about food served on Hogmanay (sorry Barmaid) and got me thinking about the traditions different people have/had on Hogmanay.

My Mum and Dad always had pots of Stovies, Tattie Soup and Tripe on the go as well as the usual Buffet stuff - wee pies, fruit cake, black bun, madeira cake etc.

We had to clean the house from top to bottom as it had to be nice to welcome in the new year and we had a ceremonial changing of the calander at midnight!

My eldest brother was sent out before the bells so he could first foot (him being dark) and he had to arrive with his bit of coal and bottle of booze!

What things did you do or do you do?

[annie0000]

lol - helen - that's okay then - we were just common :o)

[annie0000]

oh, just remembered another, my Dad had a poster of Raquel Welch that he was allowed to put up for New Year only!!

[boxtops]

In deepest England we never did anything like that, half the time we went to bed as usual - it's only since I've married into Scottish culture that we do the stew and the first footing.... and we have a big party now.

[maggiebee]

We cleaned the house - sweeping from the door inwards so you wouldn't sweep the good luck out. Had Soup and Steak Pie along with shortbread and black bun.
Parents didn't drink but we had cordial and a half bottle each of sherry and port for visitors.

[annie0000]

well done boxy, you know it makes sense ;o)

Stew now is it?

[237SJ]

We didn`t do anything traditional in the West Country. The local hunt had a ball at a posh hotel where all the middle aged/oldies went. Us kids stayed home and raided the Babycham or (when I was older) went out for a few sherbets.

[erin-x]

We have stovies and maderia cake but that's about it.. no real traditions.

My dad has a Raquel as his phone background... my mum isn't too happy! haha!

[funnygirl]

When I was a kid, we did nothing much to celebrate.
Now I pull out all the stops both me and my hubby have friends and family over celebrating. Those that cannot be here are phoned up on the dot of midnight.

[annie0000]

Maggie - I can't remember which way we brushed tbh - as the youngest I usually had the hall, stairs and bathroom to do.

[annie0000]

sounds good funnygirl.

erin - what is it with Dads and Raquel???

237 - even as a young child I would get a bottle of Advocaat and I would drink snoballs - and that was with my parents knowledge.

[Barmaid]

No apology needed Annie. My OH is a Scot but he cannot remember his childhood (good reason for that ) so with the help of AB posters, he will have a nice NYE. Good food, good wine and good friends.

[annie0000]

That's good then Barmaid :o)

[Purple_Popple]

My dad always made sure the front and back doors were open to let the old year out and the new year in. :) He also used to leave a piece of coal and a slice of bread outside on the kitchen window sill for the first dark haired person to enter the house to bring these in.

[karenmac60]

We never really had any of the old traditions, just lots of partying! No one had a drink till after the bells and my sister and I were always allowed something alcoholic (very weak) to toast in the new year. My dad was a runner so he always went for a quick run after the bells then my mum would hand him a bottle out the window when he came back so he could first foot. For the next week there'd be a party in a different neighbour's house every night and the whole street went, and they usually ended about 6am with lots of singing and hilarity. It's not the same these days :(

[Purple_Popple]

That sounds great fun Karen! Pity these traditions end over time....

[owdhamer]

If you went out in parts of owdham at night with a bit of coal you would get mugged.

[annie0000]

I'd forgotten about the doors pp!

Luckily my brother was dark so he always got the first footing job.

Karen - ours was the same - we just wandered the streets in and out of houses all night even as a child. we still go to a few neighbours and the kids get to stay up too, but it really isn't the same anymore.

[DTCwordfan]

For several Hogmanies, my sister tried getting pregnant with the coal bearing man.......and this was just NW England.....

[karenmac60]

I wouldn't go to my neighbours' now :(