Opportunity Knox for Hogmanay

Published on Monday 16 November 2009 21:29

IT WAS one of the most significant turning points in Scottish history – triggering a revolution that shaped the course of the nation for centuries.

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Now the Scottish Reformation, which saw firebrand preacher John Knox's movement assume political and religious power across the country, is to be the theme for Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations.

Organisers will today announce plans to mark the 450th anniversary of the Scottish Reformation with a series of high-profile events in the heart of the Royal Mile.

St Giles' Cathedral, where Knox made his famous pulpit speeches, is to take centre stage as part of a drive to return the capital's festivities to their Old Town roots.

Organisers say the importance of the anniversary and the revival of interest in Scotland's past, sparked by TV shows such as the BBC's History of Scotland, have helped inspire this year's theme of "reformation, renewal and resolution".

Events will feature throughout the four days of the Hogmanay festival, which will be launched with a torchlight procession from the Old Town to Calton Hill. The main focus of the one-off theme will be on New Year's Day, in the form of outdoor activities, street theatre, debates and live music.

Pete Irvine, director of Unique Events, which organises the celebrations on behalf of the city council, told The Scotsman that although visitors to the city would not be given a "history lesson", the Reformation was "the single most important point in Scottish history" and was deserving of proper commemoration.

Many historians have called for greater recognition of the anniversary of the 1560 Reformation, which saw Scotland effectively transformed from a Catholic country to a Protestant one.

The Scottish Government has been criticised for failing to instigate any major commemorations so far, amid claims it is trying to "politicise history".

The formal historical date for the Reformation in Scotland was 5 August, 1560, the day the old Scottish Parliament recognised it in an act.

Culture minister Mike Russell yesterday signalled that a major event was likely to be held in 2010 – probably to coincide with the anniversary a month earlier of the signing of the Treaty of Edinburgh, which led to the withdrawal of French troops and the eventual fall of the Catholic Church in Scotland.

Eric Milligan, former lord provost of Edinburgh, said: "A lot of people will not know that the Reformation effectively led to the banning of the celebration of Christmas. That was really what started people holding a celebration in Edinburgh at New Year and is what makes it unique as the home of Hogmanay.

"I don't think there's anything wrong at all in reminding people where it is we have come from. Modern Scotland is rooted in the religious past."

Professor Tom Devine, one of Scotland's leading historians, said:

"There is little doubt the Reformation is one of just four or five decisive moments in the making of modern Scotland and it's particularly relevant to mark at Hogmanay because of its links to a pagan celebration and the banning of Christmas celebrations post-Reformation."

Mr Russell said: "Part of the Reformation's objectives was having a separation between church and state in Scotland – and, as the Church of Scotland has said, congregations will organise their own plans to celebrate the work of the Church over the centuries.

"But there might also be room for a wider moment of commemoration involving all the significant faith groups in Scotland and for some focus on the pivotal role of the Treaty of Edinburgh in the events of 1560."