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Party and tales

Scotland hosts one of the yearly party highlights, Hogmanay.

 

Hogmanay is the Scots' word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year in the Scottish manner.

 

Robert Burns’ ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is sung to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight, not just in Scotland but in many English-speaking countries.

 

An important element of Hogmanay celebrations is to welcome friends and strangers with warm hospitality and of course a kiss to wish everyone a ‘Guid New Year’. The underlying belief is to clear out the vestiges of the old year, have a clean break and welcome in a young, New Year on a happy note.

 

The Hogmanay is however not the only loving Scottish tale. Wherever you go in Scotland, you can often find stories which may sound more cute that actually true.

 

One of these is the story of Greyfriars Bobby. Bobby was a Skye Terrier who became known in 19th century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he died himself on 14 January 1872.

 

A statue was later erected in order to pay tribute to Bobby, and visitors from around the world stop by every year to take photos. 

Glossary

  • Hogmanay/Nytårsaften (Specielt skotsk navn for festen)

  • Auld Lang Syne/Skuld gammel venskab rejn forgo

  • vestiges/resterne

  • wherever/hvorend

  • erected/rejst

© 2015 af Rune Pedersen

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