The Smokies from near Taig an Drama

document.getElementById("currentYear").innerHTML = ""+new Date().getFullYear();+""

A New Year’s wish for you:
May the best ye hae ivver seen be the warst ye'll ivver see.
May the moose ne'er lea' yer girnal wi a tear-drap in its ee.
May ye aye keep hail an hertie till ye'r auld eneuch tae dee.
May ye aye juist be sae happie as A wuss ye aye tae be.
(for those that don’t read the Angus dialect)
May the best you have ever seen be the worst you will ever see.
May the mouse never leave your grain store with a tear drop in its eye.
May you always stay hale and hearty until you are old enough to die.
May you always be as happy as I always wish you to be.

And my favorite toast to you for the New Year (repeat it at Midnight)
Here's tae us, Wha's like us
Damn few, And they're a' deid
Mairs the pity!

And of course, the words of the Scottish Poet Laureate, Rabbie Burns (with translation)

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie's a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right guide-willie waught, For auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.
New Year's Toasts Earthcam New Year Syndey, Australia Hogmany in Edingburgh The History Channel Famously Hot New Year Some New Year Webcams Times Square Sydney Harbor Eiffel Tower Edinburgh’s Royal Mile Some New Year Web Sites Happy Hogmanay

Hogmanay is one of the three major Scottish holidays and is their celebration of New Year. The word is thought to possibly have come from the French word hoguinané , through the Auld Alliance, and literally means a gift given at the New Year. Not surprisingly, it reaches back to the Norse celebration of the winter solstice as well as the Gaelic New Year celebration of Samhain.

There are many customs associated with Hogmanay, but probably the most common is the custom of first footing. This involves being the first person past midnight to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbor. Generally a gift, such as salt or whisky, is given and in return, the guest is given food. A fair trade, especially if the guest brings salt! Of course, singing and dancing are also associated with Hogmanay.

A traditional Hogmanay toast is “Lang may yer lum reek!” which translates to “Long may your chimney smoke”. It originated when people had coal fires - if the chimney was smoking it meant that you could afford coal and keep warm.

Hogmanay is followed by Ne’er Day (a contraction for New Year’s Day).

Translations from the Scottish Need a translator for the toasts? Click here.

Countdown to
New Year

  Days    Hrs   Mins Secs

Here's Siohban Miller singing a Hogmany favorite.


One of the annual Hogmany traditions is the Edinburgh Torchlight Procession. Here’s a sample.


And for all of my Scottish friends, what could be better than pipes, the Highlands and, of course, Rabbie Burns.


And what would New Year be without Auld Lang Syne? Here's Dougy MacLean, probably Scotland's most acclaimed folksinger. I saw him live many years ago at the old Overton Park Shell in Memphis, TN.