Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is connected with the celebration of the New Year in the Scotland and in other parts of the world where they choose to celebrate the New Year in the Scots way.

Hogmanay is a time of small gift giving and visiting the homes of friends and neighbours.

The name may come from the ‘Auld Alliance’, a time when Scotland and France were united against England. The word may come from a French medieval word meaning ‘to give a gift’.

For many years in the 17th century, Christmas was not celebrated as a festival in Scotland after the Protestant Reformation. At this time, in reaction to leaving the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, Christmas was seen as "too Papist" (meaning too similar to things connected to the Pope).

The most widespread national custom is first-footing. The first person to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour’s house must give of symbolic gift such as salt or coal (in the past), shortbread, whisky, and fruit cake. The idea is to bring good luck.

The Hogmanay custom of singing "Auld Lang Syne" is now worldwide. It is based on a Scots poem by Robert Burns, which in turn was based on traditional poems.

Note, hogmanay is NOT the time for eating haggis. That happens during a Burns supper, a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns. That is held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January.

You can listen to a traditional way of singing Auld Lang Syne here recorded in the first part of the 20th century (same tune, first and last verses, but slightly different to the words used today):



This is the original Scots version of the poem:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?
CHORUS: For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak' a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stoup!
and surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak' a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae run about the braes,
and pou’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin' auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,
frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin' auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
and gie's a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak' a right gude-willie waught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS

This is the English equivalent:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS