Happy Hogmanay

Here is a quick history lesson for those that are interested. Christmas was not celebrated as a festival and was virtually banned in Scotland for around 400 years, from the end of the 17th century to the 1950s. The reason for this dates back to the years of Protestant Reformation, when Christmas was proclaimed as a Catholic feast, and as such it needed banning.
All the way up to the 1950s many Scots worked over Christmas and celebrated their winter solstice holiday at New Years when family and friends would gather for a party and to exchange presents this became known as Hogmanays.
The act of "First footing" (or the "first foot" in the house after midnight) is still common across Scotland. To ensure good luck for the house the first foot should be a dark male, and he should bring with him symbolic pieces of coal, shortbread, salt, black bun and a wee dram of whisky. The dark male bit is believed to be a throwback to the Viking days, when a big blonde stranger arriving on your door step with a big axe meant big trouble, and probably not a very happy New Year! Doh!
The traditional New Year ceremony would involve people dressing up in the hides of cattle and running around the village whilst being hit by sticks. Sounds like a "wow" of a time. Unfortunately we didn't get to hit anyone with sticks, but hey you cant have everything.
Happy Hogmanay!