Happy New Year! to you all. Yes, it's that time again when we think about our past year and we make positive plans for the future.
Thinking about the past can make us a little melancholy, but also brings a smile to our face. One of the many memories that brought a smile to my face, was when I was recalling New Year's Eves or Hogmanays as it is called in Scotland.
In particular, I was remembering the parties my mother and father had in their home. My mother would spend all day preparing a midnight feast, which normally consisted of scotch broth, steak pie, boiled peas and mashed potatoes.
This feast was given to all who had gathered to see the bells in, (strike of midnight). Before the clock struck twelve, the first foot was selected. This man, (yes, no equal opportunities then), had to be tall with dark hair, not part of the household and didn’t enter the home until after twelve.
Tradition was he would bring the householders good luck for the year ahead. Similar to the three kings he had to come bearing gifts, which included a lump of coal and whisky.
As a party usually lasted all night, sandwiches, beef stew, soup and shortbread were provided for any of the later revellers. In our home, they were free to fill their bellies after they gave the company, (other celebrators) a song.
The normal for many of the partygoers was to go from house to house in a street, most would carry a piece of coal and whisky, just in case they happened to be the, ‘First foot’.
These were fun times, a tradition which died a long time ago. However, the memory definitely won't, hopefully for a long time.
Have a great year and remember in the words of Robert Burns;
‘Now’s the day and now’s the hour’
