Klarinet Archive - Posting 000803.txt from 2000/12

From: "Ian Black" <clarinet1@-----.uk>
Subj: [kl] Scotland [Was Re: [kl] Reeds]
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2000 19:32:43 -0500

----- Original Message -----
From: William Wright <Bilwright@-----.net>
Subject: Re: [kl] Reeds

> Hogmanay... for those who (like me) are curious, the Scottish
> equivalent of New Year's Eve, which involves door-to-door gift giving of
> some sort. My dictionary doesn't explain "ne'erday". I'm
> speculating that this is a contraction of New Year's Day, which is not
> capitalized for some reason?

Bill,

You are right. Hogmanay is New Year's Eve to any Scot. In actual fact, Scots would argue that the
only true New Year' Eve is a Scottish one. "First Footing" is the practice of going visiting after
midnight, in order to be the first over the threshold in the New Year. The traditional gift is a
lump of coal, the preferred (and sadly infrequent) gift is a bottle of Malt Whisky, and others
include Black Bun and Shortie. Black Bun, I understand, is a bun that is black (made with fruit -
currants raisins etc.) and often covered in pastry also referred to as a "fly cemetary" because the
fruit looks like dead flies Also known as Currant Bun. Shortie is scots for shortbread, a sweet
biscuit-like sugar-coated food sold in various sizes of tartan coloured tins to American and
Japanese tourists for over-inflated prices on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Stirling Castle, Loch
Ness etc. Actually it is sold to any tourist at the over-inflated prices. Still, the tins are
pretty.

You are also right in that Ne'erday is a Scots contraction of New Year's Day. (You're also right
about the capitalisation - how remiss of me last time). It is also the term used (at least in some
areas of Scotland) for hospitality (food/drink) extended to First Foots (not sure whether that
should be Feet or not. Foots seems more correct to me in this context, but I may be wrong) and
indeed any visitor to a Scottish home on 1st January. I remember being given "my Ne'erday" by a
friend's mother when I went round to visit. As a child, though, I missed out on the dram. Anyone
would think that the Scots' lives revolved round Whisky!

Any more questions on Scottish culture, just ask and I'll try to explain. But I'll not tell you
what's in a haggis!

Ian

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