As with festive traditions, there are a plethora of New Year traditions across the globe. Here is a selection of customs across the British Isles…

Customs: An old custom was to open the door of the house at the last stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve to allow the old year out and the new year in.

Hogmanay: In Scotland, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with much drinking and revelry as Hogmanay, which traditionally lasts for a day or more into the New Year.

Auld Lang Syne: As Big Ben strikes midnight, people all over the UK cross their arms over their chests and link hands with everyone close by them. They sing a song called ‘Auld Lang Syne’ reminding them of old and new friends. ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is from old Scottish dialect and can be translated as ‘times gone by‘ purportedly first written down in the 1700’s.

Resolutions: The end of the year brings reflection on the past and hope for the future. Many people make New Year’s resolutions. In Britain last year, less than one in five people (19%) set resolutions. Almost one in six people (17%) stick to their resolutions for four to six months. Another 9% persist with their goals for six to nine months, and 6% for nine to 12 months.

First Footing: Bringing luck to the coming year. After the strike of midnight, people would stand behind their front door waiting for a dark haired person to arrive who would be carrying coal (so they would be warm), bread (so they would be fed), money (to have enough money) and greenery (for health). The visitor would then take with them some dust or ashes symbolising taking the old year away with them.

Calennig: Welsh tradition of gift giving. A Calennig is an apple with three twig legs stuck with dried fruit, cloves and a spray of evergreens stuck into the top. It is a traditional Welsh decoration to give friends and families on New Years day to with them luck during the new year. Placing a calennig on the window sill or shelf will bring luck to the house.

The Allendale Tar Barrel Festival: Fire festival in Northumberland. Whisky barrels filled with burning tar are balanced on the heads of barrel carriers called “Guisers” and paraded around the town.

The Stonehaven Fireball Festival: celebrated near Aberdeen. A parade of sixty kilt clad marchers, accompanied by pipes and drums, whirling 16 pound balls of fire on wire ropes around their heads.

The Comrie Flambeaux Procession: celebrated in Scotland. Eight huge torches parade through the town, and then thrown from a bridge into the River Earn, ridding the town of the years evil spirits..

Superstitions: In Yorkshire, to bring good luck, people say ‘Black rabbits, black rabbits, black rabbits‘ in the closing seconds of the old year. Then they say, ‘White rabbits, white rabbits, white rabbits,’ as their first utterance of the New Year.

In Ruth’s household, the youngest with dark hair (which was her) would go out of the rear door and open the front door to let the New Year in. They would put shoes behind the front door ready for Old Father Time to leave a gift. My family however, did not have any traditions. Perhaps we will make a new one together.

How do you celebrate the New Year?
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