Thursday, December 31, 2009

Hogmanay

According to Scott biographer John Hay:

But of all the ancient ceremonies of olden times none gave him greater delight than "Hogmanay".  On the morning of that day he received a visit from all the children of his estate, when 

"The cottage bairns sang blythe and gay
At the ha' door for Hogmanay."


Nothing touched the heart of Sir Walter more than the gratitude of the children as he doled out to them from his own hands the hogmanay cakes and silver pennies.

The word from Normandy, "hoguinane", a new-year's gift, certainly appears to be a close fit as the derivation of hogmanay.

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