Where are the Merry New Year? Hogmanay in Scotland
Three days of Scotland showingthe world how to celebrate the New Year. 30-31 December and 1 January the main
celebrations take place in Edinburgh, but also in other cities: Glasgow,
Aberdeen, Stonheyvene Scots come off at full speed.
It is better to sit in front
of the television, switch the TV to the boring words President to "Blue
Light" or visit the world's best New Year's party in Edinburgh? Scots call
this holiday Hogmanay (pronounced "hug-meh-nay") - Christmas Eve,
although strictly speaking it is not Christmas, but historically.
Tradition requires all Scots
until December 31 to completely clean their homes of old, useless things and
give all the debts that morning, January 1 to start a new life. When all the
work done and the night comes, the Scots go out and celebrate with fireworks,
parades and costumed performances accompanied by rousing Scottish music.
There are various theories
about the historical roots of this holiday. Some historians believe that the
source of a pagan festival Samhain, but is more likely that the feast was
inherited from the Vikings (they were practically neighbors early Scots) who
noisily celebrated the shortest day of the year. In the Middle Ages, during the
Protestant Reformation celebration went underground and reappeared only in the
17th century.
Modern Hogmanay has a joyful
and friendly atmosphere and opens the hearts of all its members; friends and
strangers sharing hugs and kisses random, while in rural areas people open
their homes for all, friends and strangers to share the ancient tradition
celebratory meal. According to ancient pagan faith, the participants are
Hogmanay torches through the streets of using fire to drive away evil spirits.
In some parts of Scotland, played with fire presentation, men 60 or more
rotating massive 10-killogramovyh flares on metal supports, making hits in a
spectacular show.
Whether in Edinburgh or
elsewhere in Scotland, there is one thing that is required to make all the
participants of celebration - sing the classic Christmas song-poem "Auld
Lang Syne" by Robert Burns. Revelers sing hand in hand, as required by the
song. And during the celebration of it can perform even embracing 12,000
people. This ritual singing is part of the action that opens the heart and
allows anyone and everyone to feel one with the other. Like all New Year
celebrations around the world, the night ends with a spectacular fireworks
display.
Like any good party, it all
starts early and ends late. Who holiday glad that begins early, on December 30,
open discos, hosts numerous concerts, and the park invites children to ride on
the Ferris wheel. And since Jan. 2 in Scotland a day off, there's no reason to
stop the celebration at midnight on January 1st.
Practical advice
Fly to Edinburgh Airport
(EDI), or take a ticket on the bus or Mega Citylink from other cities in the
UK. If you can not get to Edinburgh to join the party in Glasgow, Aberdeen or
Stonheyvene where locals rotate fireballs over his head.
