New Year's Day - Customs & Traditions

For all my friends around the world may the coming year bring prosperity, peace and happiness.

Ring out the old
Ring in the new
Ring out the false
Ring in the true

Love and joy come to you
And to our wassail too
And God send you a Happy New Year













Traditionally on New Year's Eve, just as the clock strikes midnight, Mum and Dad and us kiddies all gathered 'round the piano and sang "Auld Lang Syne" - written by the great Scottish bard, Robbie Burns. (25 January 1759 - 21 July 1796)



Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine.
We've wandered mony a weary foot,
Sin' auld lang syne.

And ther's a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
We'll tak' a right good willie-waught,
For auld lang syne.

Robbie Burns has his back to the church and his face to the pub. Which is the way he would have wanted it. (Photo taken in Dunedin, 2007)

At the stroke of midnight, when the old year departs and the new year begins, "Auld Lang Syne" is traditionally sung around the world, especially in English speaking countries, and everyone joins hands with the person next to them to form a circle.

New Years Customs
Apart from getting giddily tipsy and kissing everybody in sight at the stroke of midnight, there are other customs as well -

like
First Footing - The first person to cross your threshold and enter your home should be dark haired, tall and good looking. Preferably bearing a gift. If that person is a red head or blonde, then I'm afraid you're in for a run of bad luck for the coming year. Oh, and the "First Footer" must, I repeat, must be a male - no females please. That'd bring disaster on everyone's head!

Pay Your Bills - Tis bad luck if you've any unpaid bills on the 1st January.

Have food in the house - Having an empty pantry or food cupboard is also bad luck.

Make A Big Noise - Loud noise scares away the evil spirits so make a big racket even if it does annoy your staid, 80 year old neighbours next door!

Of course, if you have bad luck on New Year's Day, then that bodes ill for the next 364 days!

I wish all of you, everyone, prosperity and good luck for the New Year.
Cheers.

Note: I selected the "Waterloo Bridge" version of Auld Lang Syne as it was the best I could find and the most poignant.

Quote of the Day: Friends help you move, real friends help you move bodies!