Leader: We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet

Published on Friday 8 October 2010 15:19

IS THERE no end to the austerity misery spreading over Scotland? Now one of the biggest victims of cuts could be our Hogmanay celebrations. Edinburgh has already pruned hard as a result of ticket revenue failing to cover costs last year. Now Oban, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth and Aviemore are among those going without major parties, while Glasgow and Stirling have joined Edinburgh in the big cuts.

The annual bash in Glasgow's George Square is being reduced from 10,000 to 5,000 people and the big rock bands are being unplugged.

Hogmanay has traditionally been a homespun, community affair rather than an occasion for rock concerts attended by tens of thousands and fireworks lighting the sky. These have tended to detract from the traditions of first-footing, local dances in the town hall and parties in each others' homes. We never stinted on the food and drink, but neither were we the big spenders for "mine's bigger-than-yours" official parties. There is much to be saved - and little lost - by returning to a more traditional home-made Hogmanay. The big city festivals looked to be running out of puff for reasons other than council parsimony. Households are more cost-conscious and we are less prone to the expense of Hogmanay jaunting. East, west, home's still best?