Entry for December 31, 2007

Every year December 31 is viewed with the hope and desperate desire that the new year will be better, but deep down at some point cynical aspirations surface in my brain...yeah, a new year, and the inevitable questions- and inevitably the answer to hope for a new year better than the last is driven (I think) by the human fear of the future, the unknown.

And all i can say is that knowing that, maybe i should resort to some ceremonial offering like my ancient scottish ancestors.

National Geographic wrote about it:

Greeting the new year with friends and spirits is customary in many parts of the world. Residents of Scotland mark the arrival of the new year with particular passion in a holiday they call Hogmanay that draws on their history of Viking invasions, superstition, and ancient pagan rituals. Hogmanay's origins date back to pagan rituals that marked the time of the winter solstice.

Roman celebrations of the hedonistic winter festival of Saturnalia and Viking celebrations of Yule (the origin of the twelve days of Christmas) contributed to celebrations in Scotland around the new year. These celebrations and other ceremonies evolved over the centuries to become the Hogmanay holiday celebrated in Scotland today...

Hogma-what?

Even the origin of the word Hogmanay is a subject of debate. A few possibilities: It may derive from the Gaelic oge maiden meaning "new morning"; the Celtic hogunnus meaning "new year"; hoog min dag, a Flemish-Dutch phrase meaning "great love day"; or the Old French word aguillanneuf, which refers to both the last day of the year and the gift traditionally given on that day.

The last possibility seems especially likely since one of the old Scottish traditions was for children to run from door to door on New Year's Eve asking for presents and shouting, Hogmanay!

Whatever its origins, Hogmanay is an integral part of Scottish culture today. Apparently, one day to recover isn't enough: January 2nd is an official holiday in Scotland, too.

Aye, my scottish roots !

Happy New Year- er, Hogmanay