|
|
Post by tinaja on Nov 14, 2017 11:33:23 GMT -5
I'm now intrigued. All the fireballs and torch lighting.
Anyone experienced it? Not that I am a huge NYE person, but that sounds like the party of parties.
|
|
|
|
Post by sprite on Nov 14, 2017 13:58:25 GMT -5
to celebrate our first year living in city with hogmanay, we left to visit the inlaws. but i'm really looking forward to this year. fires, food, concerts, parades--what's not to like?
|
|
|
|
Post by ozziegiraffe on Nov 15, 2017 5:30:42 GMT -5
I got stuck in Glasgow from 31st December to 2nd January, many years ago, because I missed the last train south due to very heavy snow. Nothing much happened. And no trains ran.
|
|
|
|
Post by weeg on Nov 15, 2017 13:51:17 GMT -5
I'm shocked by the 'nothing much happened' we're pretty notorious for dragging strangers into our parties!
There are still no trains.
It's been years since I did a big street party, but when I was a student in Edinburgh, Hogmanay on the Royal Mail was an epic night of wandering, kissing strangers, bumping into friends and general carousing. It's different now. It became a destination event, which led to over crowding, which led to ticketing and commercialisation. It's still a lot of fun, but it's much more 'organised fun' than it once was.
|
|
|
|
Post by sprite on Nov 15, 2017 15:31:27 GMT -5
the whole bloody city is organised fun, all year round!
(three of my students managed to climb calton hill for guy fawkes night, a) without seeing any bonfire or fireworks, and b) without meeting each other.)
|
|
|
|
Post by ozziegiraffe on Nov 15, 2017 16:23:17 GMT -5
I'm shocked by the 'nothing much happened' we're pretty notorious for dragging strangers into our parties! There are still no trains. It's been years since I did a big street party, but when I was a student in Edinburgh, Hogmanay on the Royal Mail was an epic night of wandering, kissing strangers, bumping into friends and general carousing. It's different now. It became a destination event, which led to over crowding, which led to ticketing and commercialisation. It's still a lot of fun, but it's much more 'organised fun' than it once was. There was snow about 6 feet deep. I'd come in from an island called Cumbrae, and stayed at the hotel near the station to wait for the first train south. We had a skeleton staff and very few guests. |
|
|
|
Post by wombatrois on Nov 16, 2017 7:43:34 GMT -5
Do people still first foot? We did that when I lived on Skye.
|
|
|
|
Post by weeg on Nov 16, 2017 16:25:46 GMT -5
People still first foot. Especially outside the cities.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phar Lap on Nov 16, 2017 19:26:28 GMT -5
the whole bloody city is organised fun, all year round! (three of my students managed to climb calton hill for guy fawkes night, a) without seeing any bonfire or fireworks, and b) without meeting each other.) Do you still celebrate Guy Fawkes night? Lucky you Sprite, it was banned here years ago. Sigh... It was affectionately known as Cracker Night. |
|
|
|
Post by sprite on Nov 17, 2017 4:45:59 GMT -5
yup, still here. we were driving into the city around the time a lot of villages were celebrating, so it was like a ring of fireworks blossoming. really beautiful. if i had the money, i'd arrange to fly into the city at that time just to see them all from the air.
|
|
|
|
Post by snowwhite on Nov 17, 2017 7:53:16 GMT -5
I'm shocked by the 'nothing much happened' we're pretty notorious for dragging strangers into our parties! There are still no trains. It's been years since I did a big street party, but when I was a student in Edinburgh, Hogmanay on the Royal Mail was an epic night of wandering, kissing strangers, bumping into friends and general carousing. It's different now. It became a destination event, which led to over crowding, which led to ticketing and commercialisation. It's still a lot of fun, but it's much more 'organised fun' than it once was. There was snow about 6 feet deep. I'd come in from an island called Cumbrae, and stayed at the hotel near the station to wait for the first train south. We had a skeleton staff and very few guests. I've been to Cumbrae! Did a sailing course there in 2002. |
|
|
|
Post by veronicainsocks on Nov 18, 2017 22:04:48 GMT -5
Do people still first foot? We did that when I lived on Skye. what does it mean? |
|
|
|
Post by sprite on Nov 19, 2017 9:40:03 GMT -5
the scots, after midnight, go round to visit the neighbours.
if the first person to step across the threshhold is fair, good luck. if dark-haired, bad.
i think? where's weeg?
|
|
|
|
Post by weeg on Nov 20, 2017 7:19:48 GMT -5
the scots, after midnight, go round to visit the neighbours. if the first person to step across the threshhold is fair, good luck. if dark-haired, bad. i think? where's weeg? A tall dark man is considered the luckiest first footer. One imagines handsome would also be a bonus. But essentially yes, it's setting out after midnight to wish your neighbours happy new year, carrying tokens - traditionally coal, food (shortbread), drink( whisky) - warmth, food and good cheer for the year. And then you stay and have a drink, and maybe move on to the next house. Hogmanay is traditionally a really big deal in scotland. My grandfather (who was born in about 1902) told me that when he was young christmas day wasn't a public holiday, but ne'er day was. It was the other way round in england. 2nd january is also a public holiday here. |
|
|
|
Post by sprite on Nov 20, 2017 15:22:38 GMT -5
thanks for the correction. i'm remembering a story book from when i was 9 that talked about it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Liiisa on Nov 20, 2017 20:24:50 GMT -5
Wow, how cool; I had no idea about any of these things. (Having a nice-looking man bring you shortbread and whiskey sounds like a pretty fine tradition.)
|
|
|
|
Post by tzarine on Nov 20, 2017 21:07:45 GMT -5
ohmygod
what i have missed!
|
|
|
|
Post by wombatrois on Nov 22, 2017 8:00:01 GMT -5
My boyfriend was very dark haired, so we were always welcomed!
They owned a pub, and I found it very strange that they opened on Christmas Day (our pubs are still closed on Christmas Day here).
|
|
