December 28, 2024 | Awake & Dreaming

Scotland: Redding of the house and “Auld Lang Syne”

In Scotland, Hogmanay is an end-of-year New Year’s Eve party that starts on December 30 and ends on New Year’s Day. There are many variations of Hogmanay celebrations throughout the country, but the most common tradition is that of “first footing,” which involves being the first to visit friends and neighbors, often with a symbolic gift in hand.

People gather to sing “Auld Lang Syne” (a song about friends recalling their adventures from long ago) as the clock strikes midnight, but one of the most important New Year’s Eve traditions is the redding of the house. This is essentially a deep clean around your home, from the cabinets to the front door. One spot that’s focused on is the fireplace—all old ashes are cleaned out so everyone in the house can start the year off fresh.

If you happen to be in Edinburgh for the festivities, expect to see pipers and drummers leading torch-wielding locals on a procession throughout the city (scheduled for December 29 in 2024). And on New Year’s Day, the party ends with a bracing swim in the chilly waters of the Firth of Forth. Like any festive occasion, Hogmanay is a time to enjoy food and drink, and has its own gastronomic traditions. Fruitcake, shortbread and black bun are the customary dishes to offer guests, and to present to hosts when first footing. A flute of champagne lends a celebratory sparkle to any occasion, but the only drink with which to toast the bells at Hogmanay is of course Scotch whisky.

If you could find out the date of a future event, what would you like to know the date of?

I would love know when it all comes to an end – knowing when you are going to die would be something I would appreciate knowing. Getting oneself ready for the end is a privilege not given to everyone. So I would cherish the option and would like to know when it is that I will leave this world. Having the earth ending and everyone going out at the same time is something I have thought about many times. But if it is just me, that is ok too.

So like I mentioned, I don’t want it to sneak up on me. I would want some advance and is say a week or so isn’t a possibility then atleast a day would do. That way, I would have enough time to say my goodbyes to my loved ones, my friends and family. I would need that time to make sure I leave nothing unsaid and do something to records my final thoughts with enough time to spare. Since I can’t come back to redo things or say anything I left out, I won’t be able to.

Final hours will be spent with my family. I would like to gather everyone in one place, so I can hug people and say my final goodbyes and have a final meal of all the best food we can lay out hands on. Play some of my favourite songs in the background which will be the soundtrack to the end of the night and my life. When the minutes and seconds tick off and it is the end, I guess I won’t be sad but I will be content.

Prompt from Journaling Prompts from The Coffee Monterz Co . Com