Scottish New Years Terms

1. "Auld Lang Syne" ~ From the classic Robbie Burns poem, literally "Old long since", thus "Days of auld lang syne" means "days of old gone by".

2. Hogmanay ~ The name given to the New Year's celebrations. The origin of the word is unknown, some possibilities include the Norman French "hoguinané" or "Homme est né" or "Man is born" , the Norse "Hoggo-nott" a yuletime feast, the Flemish "hoog min dag" or "great love day", the Saxon "Haleg monath" or "Holy Month" or the Gaelic "Oge maidne" or "new morning".

3. "Lang may yer lum reek" ~ A traditional New Years greeting meaning "Long may your chimney smoke" or may you have enough fuel. Lum = Chimney, Reek = smoke.

4. "Handselling" ~ Was the custom of gift giving on the first Monday of the New Year but this has died out except for the Outer Islands. Also "Hanselling".

5. "Burning the clavie" ~ A bonfire made of a wooden cask filled with tar held together with an iron spike called a "clavis" in Latin; hence the term, however it may more likely also be from Scottish Gaelic "cliabh", a basket used for holding combustibles.

6. Douro ~ The alter upon which the clavie is burned.

7. Ne'erday ~ New Years Day.

8. Auld Handsel Monday ~ is traditionally celebrated on the first Monday after the 12th of January. Small gifts or tips are given out, roughly equal to Boxing Day in England and Canada. A "Handsel" or "Hansel" is a small gift box.