New Year’s Customs: Scotland: Hogmanay

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Scottish New Years Eve Customs: In Scotland New Year’s Eve is called Hogmanay (Moon of the Hag) Oidhche Chaluinne (Night of the Candle) honoring the diety Hogmagog. Three cornered biscuits called hogmanays are eaten. Bonfires are lit, torches and smoking sticks are used to ward off evil spirits. After sunset people collect juniper cypress and water to purify the home. Divining rituals are done according to the directions of the winds, which are assigned their own colors.
First Footing: This is the time when friends and relatives come to visit the home. The first person who comes to the door on midnight New Year’s Eve should be a dark-haired or dark-complected man. Seeing a cat, dog, woman, red-head or beggar is unlucky. The person brings a gift of coal or whiskey to ensure prosperity in the New Year. At the moment the New Year arrives, doors and windows are opened to let out the old year and drive out the Cwn Annwn, the black dogs of the underworld who pass through. Mummer’s Plays are also performed. The actors, the White Boys of Yule, are all dressed in white, except for one dressed as the devil in black. It is bad luck to engage in marriage proposals, break glass, spin flax, sweep or carry out rubbish on New Year’s Eve.
Foods: wine, ginger cordial, cheese, bread, shortbread:[baked dessert made of sugar, butter, and rice-flour], black bun, ankersocks: [gingerbread-rye cakes], oatmeal cake, currant loaf [bread], and a pastry called scones. (1, 4, 8)