Hogmanay (Moon of the Hag), Oidhche Challuinn, New Year's Eve, St. Sylvester's Day

Celtic Times

Since the Dark Ages of Britain, in Celtic countries and regions Hogmanay or New Year's Eve has always taken precedence over the Christmas festival. The customs and traditions were practised more so in Scotland than any other Celtic country or region. At this time bonfires were lit and kept in all night to ward off evil spirits and also to encourage the sun to return. This symbolised the burning of the old year out.

Guising

Dressing up as horned animals was a tradition descended from pagan animal god worship. It was customary on New Year's Eve for people to walk the town and houses carrying cow hides and chanting rhymes in Gaelic whilst at the same time beating skins with sticks and striking walls of houses with clubs to keep hostile spirits at bay. 'Guising', the dressing up of people in disguise, is still practised today at festival times and particularly at Halloween.

Divination

As at the Festival of Halloween (Samhain), divination was practised and resolutions were made. It was custom to place a silver coin outside the house on New Year's Eve, if the coin remained there the following day it would indicate a prosperous year ahead. This led to the custom of placing a piece of coal, a piece of bread and a silver sixpence outside the house for good luck and prosperity. The New Year was a focal point for all household tasks and business to be completed.

First Footing

The custom of 'first footing' is now practised worldwide on New Year's Eve. On this day people would visit their friends and relatives. The Old Year would be let out through the back door and the New Year let in through the front door at the chimes of midnight. It was custom that the first person at the New Year to pass over the threshold should be a dark haired male bringing coal or whisky for luck in the New Year.

St. Sylvester

The 31st December is also St. Sylvester's Day. St. Sylvester was Pope from AD314 until he died in Rome on December 31st AD335. According to legend he cured Roman Emperor Constantine I of leprosy.

Ne'er Day

In Scotland, New Years Day was known as Ne'er Day. In 1600 the 1st January officially became New Years Day. This meant that the celebrations which were traditionally practised on 6th January and Celtic quarter days were moved to the 1st January as part of the Yuletide celebrations, in particular the customs of 'first footing' and divination.

Modern Times

The celebration of Hogmanay has now spread worldwide. On New Year's Eve, Scotland, the home of Hogmanay, becomes the focal point of the entire world. As the twelve bells chime, millions of Scots together with billions of people from all parts of the globe welcome the New Year in to the tune of the Robert Burns song 'Auld lang syne' (for old times sake). People gather in public places to celebrate Hogmanay, from the shadows of Edinburgh Castle to George Square in Glasgow and Times Square in New York and Trafalgar Square in London, the Scottish tradition of welcoming in the New Year is passionately celebrated.

For you to celebrate your Hogmanay in Scottish style and toast the New Year at the chime of the 12 bells, why not choose from our range of Scottish Thistle glassware.

View our complete range of Scottish Thistle items, including our popular embroidered table cloths as featured below.

Ideal for Hogmanay celebrations is the red and green Plaid design which is derived from Scottish Tartan. The range is beautifully made and available in reversible placemats and table runners with contrasting tablecloths with a choice of white or red background. The range can be matched with the Hem Stitch table cloth and is ideal for those special occasions.

A Happy and Prosperous New Year to all our customers

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Celtic Glass Designs offer a range of stunning hand painted glassware and matching embroidered table linen for all occasions - Birthdays, Corporate and Special Events, Anniversaries, Weddings, Burns Night, Valentine's Day, St Davids Day, St Patricks Day, Mother's Day, Easter Sunday, May Day, Father's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hogmanay.