Five weird and wonderful Scottish Hogmanay customs

Published on Thursday 3 December 2009 15:32

From fireball swinging to town-wide games of violent football, Scotland's local communities have a variety of unique rituals and traditions to celebrate the arrival of a new year.

&#149 A member of the Burgh takes part in the fireball ritual

In Stonehaven, south of Aberdeen, the stroke of midnight marks the beginning of the fireball swinging ceremony. Dozens of men, all of whom must reside in the Burgh, make their way from the Mercat Cross to the Cannon and back, swinging burning balls made of chicken wire, rags and newspaper around their heads. When they have finished their procession through the town, the swingers go down to the water and throw the fireballs into the sea. The ritual is said to ward off the evil eye and bring luck for the new year's fishing. The event has become a popular visitor attraction, and frequently attracts thousands of spectators.

&#149 Click here to see the Stonehaven webcam

Biggar has developed something of a tradition of Hogmanay bonfires, and this year will be no different. Based on an ancient Druid fire festival, the bonfire is said to burn out the old year to welcome in the new. A torchilt procession through the town will end in the main square, with the bonfire set to be lit at 9.30pm.

&#149 A New Year game of ba' in Kirkwall

In Kirkwall, Orkney, New Year's Day is celebrated with a game of ba', a unique and violent variation of football played with a leather ball that kicks off at 1pm at the Mercat Cross opposite the Cathedral. The game is men only, and the two teams are called the Uppies and the Doonies. What team you are in was traditionally decided by where in the town you lived, but is now more commonly determined by family loyalties. Ba' is played through the town streets, with the Doonies' goal being the sea, and the Uppies' a corner opposite the Catholic Church.

In Dundee and certain East Coast fishing communities, it is traditional for a first footer to come bearing a dressed herring, symbolising good luck and prosperity for the coming year.

&#149 Burghead's burning Clavie

If you don't mind waiting a while for your New Year, Burghead in Moray have their celebrations on 11th January, the old new year's day by the Julian calendar. The Burning of the Clavie is an ancient tradition of unknown origin that involves a cask filled with tar, set alight and carried around the town by the elected Clavie King. After ten or so locals (traditionally fishermen) have taken turns to carry the clavie around the town (in a clockwise direction), it is taken up ancient Dorrie Hill, to be placed on a stone altar in the remains of a fort. There, it forms the heart of a bonfire built of split casks. Locals scramble to collect embers from the fire to use at home for luck.