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Project Meeting Ardrossan Academy 21st – 27th November 2006 . Traditional Scottish Festivals . Ardrossan November 2006. Hogmanay / Ne’erday. Hogmanay is the name Scot s give to the 31st December when the bringing in of the New Year is celebrated.
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Project Meeting Ardrossan Academy 21st – 27th November 2006
Traditional Scottish Festivals Ardrossan November 2006
Hogmanay / Ne’erday Hogmanay is the name Scots give to the31st Decemberwhen the bringing in of the New Year is celebrated. Ne’erday is New Year’s Day when families get together for a meal (usually a steak pie ) and recover from Hogmanay
Up Helly Aa Britain's biggest fire festival and torchlight procession takes place in Lerwick on the last Tuesday every January. Over 900 colourfully dressed "guisers" follow the Jarl's squad of Vikings and their longship through the darkened streets of the town to the burning site. Here the official ceremony ends in a spectacular blaze as 800 flaming torches are thrown into the galley. Then follows a night of revelry as each of the 40 plus squads visit the 11 local halls and put on wild and amusing sketches to entertain their hosts. In these pages you will find some information on the history of the festival and of this year's festivities.
Burns Day 25th January Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
Selkirk Grace Some hae meat and canna eat;And some wad eat that want it:But we hae meat and we can eatAnd sae the Lord be thankit.
St Valentine’s Day 14 FebruarySt Valentine’s Day Celebrated in Scotland as all over Europe. Traditionally, young unmarried people drew names written on pieces of paper to see who their sweetheart would be for the coming year. ‘My love is like a red, red rose that’s newly sprung in June, My love is like a melody that’s sweetly sung in tune.’ Robert Burns
Hunt the Gowk - 1st April In Scotland, where the tradition is celebrated over the course of forty-eight hours, April Fool's Day is also known as "April Gowk," "Gowkie Day" or "Hunt the Gowk." "Gowk" is Scottish for "cuckoo" (an emblem of simpletons) and thus, a "gowk" is the butt of any practical joke. The second day of the Scottish April Fool's custom is devoted exclusively to pranks involving the posterior region of the body. This is known as "Taily Day" and the origin of the ever-popular "Kick Me" sign is likely traceable to this observance. The same custom takes place in the Orkney Isles (located just off the Scottish Mainland), where this area's "Tailing Day" is also celebrated on April 2."
Easter An ancient pagan festival of the spring equinox was superceded by the Christian celebration. The recognisable Easter customs — painted egg rolling, making hot-cross buns — were also celebrated in Scotland; they have now been joined by the more recent arrivals of chocolate eggs and the Easter Bunny.
Beltane Celebrated on the 1stMay. Another ancient pagan fire festival, this time celebrating May Day and the approach of summer. Bonfires were lit on hilltops all across Scotland.
Marymass 3rd or 4th Monday in August Once a Roman Catholic celebration of the Virgin Mary, after the Reformation in Scotland the festival became associated with Mary Queen of Scots and her four ladies in waiting, also called Mary who were executed with her. A Queen is voted from local girls and a parade goes through the town along with other events.
The Glesga Fair The last 2 weeks in July the Most Scots towns have a summer fortnight traditionally regarded as a local holiday period, but Glasgow’s is the oldest — dating from the 12th century —and still the most popular. One popular activity was ‘ Goin Doon the Watter’ to popular tourist resorts such as Largs and Saltcoats!
Arts festivals Edinburgh International FestivalDuring the annual Edinburgh International Festival in August - and the concurrent Fringe, Jazz, Film and Book festivals - there is a vast choice of quality cultural events in the city every night, ranging from opera and experimental theatre to soon-to-be-famous comedy talents.
The Military Tattoo • The Military Tattoo, held in August in the grounds of Edinburgh castle, is the ultimate showcase of pipe band music. Army band marches are interspersed with displays of precision from flag-wavers, motorcyclists, horses and the like, attracting masses of visitors from all over the world.
Guy Fawkes Night November 5th In 1605, Guy Fawkes and a group of conspirators attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Before they were able to carry out their plan they were caught, tortured and executed. Every year since then we have traditionally celebrated his failure by letting off fireworks and burning an effigy of 'Guy'.
St Andrew’s Day Although St Andrew has been the patron saint of Scotland since a Pictish victory in a battle in 747 AD, 30 November is not a public holiday in Scotland. Indeed, St Andrew's night is celebrated more by expatriate Scots around the world.
The origin of this major Highland Games is said to go back to the 11th century when King Malcolm III "Canmore" gave a prize to the winner of a race to the top of Craig Choinnich. Queen Victoria ensured the success of the games into modern times by attending them in 1848 and the Royal family has been associated with them ever since
Riding the Marches Aceremony of Riding the Marches or boundaries is traditional in a number of locations around Scotland, and the tradition has still survived particularly in the Scottish Borders. Selkirk's is particularly well known, remembering as it does the Battle of Flodden. Langholm, Lauder, Peebles, Annan, Linlithgow and Sanquhar also follow the same tradition.
Hallowe'en The evening of All Hallows (Saints) Day and the last day of the year in the old Celtic calendar. It was celebrated by the Druids as "Samhain" from "Sain" meaning summer and "fuin" meaning "ending". It was associated with witches and celebrated with bonfires and "guising" as children dressed up and went round neighbouring houses with "tattie bogles" or "neep lanterns" (candles inside turnips). The pumpkin serves the same purpose in the USA. There is a (long) poem by Robert Burns on Hallowe’en which gives a good description of the traditions which were followed in his day.
Christmas For many years Christmas Day was not even a public holiday in Scotland as New Year was the main celebration time. Nowadays, as elsewhere, Santa Claus climbs down chimneys and delivers expensive presents that have been advertised and on sale since August. (When you visit Edinburgh on Friday you could visit the Christmas Shop which is open all year to cater for some sad cases.) The Christian celebration of Christ’s birth, which replaced the pagan Winter Solstice festival, is celebrated at Midnight Watch services in churches on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day it is traditional to eat Turkey with Sage and Onion Stuffing, Roast Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts with Christmas Pudding as dessert. If you are very lucky you may pull a cracker during the meal! The traditional Christmas celebrated in the UK is actually based on the writings of Charles Dickens rather than an old tradition.
Pantomimes One very popular and successful part of the Christmas tradition, particularly in Scotland, is the Pantomime, where national and local theatre companies present musical versions of well known fairy stories. Aimed at children many pantomimes usually contain jokes aimed at an older audience and use political and topical undertones. Traditionally the main character, The Dame, which is a type of narrator, is a female part played by a man. These two ‘dames’ are sporting the colours of Glasgow’s rival football teams, Rangers and Celtic – known collectively as ‘The Old Firm ‘. Matches between these two clubs are a huge event in the Scottish calendar.
