Hogmanay is a pagan festival celebrated by the Scots on the last day of the year. This event is based not only on parties, songs, dances and various attractions, but also fiery entertainment. The most ambitious events take place on the streets of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and they last for two days.
The origin of the word “hogmanai” is not fully known, since some historians believe that in translation from Gaelic it means “new morning”, while others believe that the name of the celebration is of Anglo-Saxon origin and means “holy month”. But whatever the truth is, Hogmanay is, of course, the most ancient holiday, which was celebrated back in the days of the pagans who revered the forces of nature, in particular, the sun and fire.
The main symbol of the festival is fire, which is lit on the last day of the year in the evening and it is believed that all wisdom passes along with the flame in the coming year. Also, with the help of fire, people get rid of bad thoughts and adversities that befell them last year. That is why bonfires, torchlight processions, fireworks and “fire shows” are of particular importance on this day. At the end of the holiday, all the balls of fire are thrown into the open waters of the harbor, where the participants of the event watch the fireworks.
Every year more than 10 thousand spectators come to the festival, it is advisable to take places for viewing in advance – from 22.30 to 23.30. The “Fire” parade starts at midnight, and the entertainment show starts at 23.00. For an hour, the musicians play various instruments – bagpipes, drums, pipes.
It is impossible not to note other features of the holiday, for example, the national kayli dances. No special skills are required from dancers, emotional feedback is enough. That is why such dances are popular not only among the Scots, but also among foreign citizens who have come to the holiday. Another feature is the “sign of the first leg”, its essence lies in the fact that in the new year, the first to cross the threshold of the house is a handsome brunette with a small piece of coal. Why it is so accepted is difficult to answer unequivocally, perhaps this is due to the unfriendly attitude of the Scots towards the Vikings, from whom nothing good could be expected.