New Year Traditions

[Tenorman]

Now the Scots tend to lay claim to the New Year celebration. (Let's face it how many countries around the world sing Auld Lang Syne to see in the New Year - a song written by Robert Burns) The main reason for New Year being the big party was that in a Presbyterian country Christmas was a church day, and we shall be having none of that heathen nonsense of Christmas trees and presents. It was only in 1958 that Christmas day became a holiday in Scotland

So the whole party focus was at New Year

Traditionally it was a family and friends thing
When I was in my teens and early 20s we saw the New year in in our own houses. We then waited for the "first fit" That was the first foot over the door in the new year, who had to be male and bearing three gifts
Coal -- for heat (lets face it Scotland is on the same parallel as the Hudson Bay in Canada)
Black Bun -- for food. Black bun is a very rich fruit cake surrounded in pastry -- a cake Wellington I suppose
Whisky -- for drink

The three essentials of life

We then started going round each others houses, or at least the musicians did. You went round with the gifts but were then fed royally in return for 15 minutes of traditional Scottish music.

Unfortunately all that has gone except in the remoter country areas

But here is one tradition that I am surprised that the health and safety fascists have not shut down yet

Stonehaven in North East Scotland
Check it out

http://www.stonehavenfireballs.co.uk/about

[Tenorman]

So what are the traditions in your part of the world

[jazzbluescat]

I'm fixating on "But here is one tradition that I am surprised that the health and safety fascists have not shut down yet," right now and don't want to hijack your thread.

Anyhow, we here in the South have a black eyed peas meal on New Year Day. It supposedly brings good luck. Traditionally the local District Attorney puts on a free black eyed peas lunch every year. Why him? I don't know for sure, probably political in nature; but I'll find out Tuesday.

[Tenorman]

It might surprise you at how many things have been shut in the UK owing to health and safety gone mad.

[OutofTune]

In Denmark, at every party we turn on the tv just before midnight: the bells at Copenhagen town hall chime, and a choir sings 3 songs which we all sing along with (as well as each one can at that time of night!).

Then we light fireworks on the streets.

The one example of a tv choir at new year i could find: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeBF60ZBPyg

[Tenorman]

Velkommen Nytaer

No accents on this keyboard

Very formal. From the little I could understand using my school German to extrapolate the Danish, the song was almost Christmassy


The Scots are all about getting very relaxed (read drunk) It was the complete antithesis of the Prsbyterian Christmas

[jazzbluescat]

Originally Posted by Tenorman

It might surprise you at how many things have been shut in the UK owing to health and safety gone mad.

Oh yes! But I attribute it to the "raising a family 'syndrome.'" I think your perspective is more "realistic." But there is a segment of the population that buys into the "It takes a village" bullshit {when we're actually getting further and further away from the family concept, or a more narrow view of it, anyhow}.

[xybert]

Here in New Zealand, a relatively young multicultural country, our tradition is pretty much to get together and drink on new years eve. My family usually gets together on new years day for a meal. My wife was born in China so ask me again in February . And then there's Matariki (Maori new year).

Best wishes for 2013 and beyond, all.

[Tenorman]

One theory of the First Foot in Scotland having to be dark haired was that the Vikings were mainly blonde, so you knew you weren't about to be pillaged!

Although, this year in the preparations over in Edinburgh, there was a parade which contained the Up Helly A Guisers from Shetland


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-20874917

Clock the drum major with the mace leading the pipe band

[OutofTune]

Originally Posted by Tenorman

One theory of the First Foot in Scotland having to be dark haired was that the Vikings were mainly blonde, so you knew you weren't about to be pillaged!

Although, this year in the preparations over in Edinburgh, there was a parade which contained the Up Helly A Guisers from Shetland


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-20874917

Clock the drum major with the mace leading the pipe band

Impressive!!

[OutofTune]

Originally Posted by Tenorman

Velkommen Nytaer

No accents on this keyboard

Very formal. From the little I could understand using my school German to extrapolate the Danish, the song was almost Christmassy


The Scots are all about getting very relaxed (read drunk) It was the complete antithesis of the Prsbyterian Christmas

Oh make no mistake, that tv thing is formal, but the other side of the tv screens is another matter ppl are very drunk, and sing a great deal out of tune!

[Tenorman]

Last year I did this

http://forums.allaboutjazz.com/showt...Auld+Lang+Syne

All the words for Auld Lang Syne

Auld Lang Syne

Chorus.
And for auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne,
1.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o' auld lang syne.
2.
And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp!
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
3.
We twa hae run about the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.
4.
We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn,
Frae mornin' sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.
5.
And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right guid willy waught,
For auld lang syne.

[Tenorman]

As it has just turned midnight here --

A guid New Year tae ane an' a'

[Tenorman]

There are currently 75,000 people in Edinburgh singing Auld Lang Syne linked up to more people in Inverness, and Stirling.

[page]

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! That's Dutch and we say it as the clock strikes 0:00 hours the new year. We kiss and wish good things, we drink champagne or something similar and we go out on the streets. Not me this year, still a bit ill.
Another tradition we have is what we eat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliebol
When I was a girl I have made the pastry for this in a bucket every year. My mom's was the best since she had special ingredients which will remain a secret.
It was a tough job stirring in the bucket. When it was ready we put the bucket in front of the stove, the only heating in the house, to rise. When it had become much more it is baked in oil to little balls. I think we could eat them for a week, so much there was, and every visitor got a little basket to take home filled with these sweet things.

Happy New Year to all of you here at AAJ. May 2013 be a year you will later remember as a good one!
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