Daft Days Are Over... Time For Blogmanay

Happy Hogmanay, beautiful Plonkers.

Get yer kilts oot, us Scots sure know how to party!

Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of New Years Eve and can sometimes last for days. It is believed the Scots inherited the celebration of Hogmanay from the Vikings and their celebration of the shortest day. I think today Hogmanay is a good excuse to have a wee dram (Johnny Walker whisky) and munch down on shortbread and stovies*

In our house Hogmanay traditions were the taking out the ashes from the fire and making sure all your debts are cleared with friends before "The Bells" at midnight. The kids got to stay up until midnight partying with the adults so there was great excitement and competitions of who could stay up the latest. I never frikken won!

Immediately after midnight, it was tradition to join crossed hands with everyone in our house and sing Robert Burns' "Auld Lang Syne" in yer best drunken slur. It was also traditional to welcome any guests, friends or strangers into your home with warm hospitality and a kiss.

We used to wait for the "First Footing" (that is the first foot in the door after midnight) usually a male, dark and should bring a lump of coal. We would wish them "Lang May Yer Lum Reek!", which means may you live long and well. In other words, Prosperity. The lump of coal meaning that if you can afford coal, you can make fire, to cook and to keep warm.

Mum would make her homemade shortbread by the pokefull and serve whisky and black bun. A guid ol' sing-song by everyone into the wee hours of the morning.

Och aye, Hogmonay was big in oor wee hoose. Dead Brilliant!

Lang May Yer Lum Reek, Plonkers!

Happy 2013 may it be the best one yet.




Link up with XmasDolly for Monday Music Moves Me. Today's theme is this year's best songs or post the rockin-est song you know.  Jack's record has been nominated for three Grammy's Album of the Year for Blunderbuss, Best Rock Album and Best Rock Song of the Year for "Freedom at 21".  Here is my favourite song from the record.





*Stovies is made by boiling potatoes and onions together and serving it seasoned with butter and a little corned beef.

Happy Hugmonay!

Haggis, Whiskey, Auld Lang Syne...lets go first-footin' with our lump o' coal, freshly baked short-bread, a bottle of whiskey and a slice o' the ol' black bun.

Lang may yer lum reek!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.