Happy Hogmanay

Hogmanay is the Scots word for the "last day of the year". As my background is Scots, from me, to you, as I reflect on 2008 and anticipate 2009:

Happy Hogmanay.

There are all kinds of interesting ideas and traditions you pick up along the way. It wasn't until recently that I discovered that the New Year's Day tradition of preferring the first visit from a dark-haired man (as opposed to a fair-haired man) comes from wanting a Scot as opposed to a Norse to show up at your door. I just always remember, as a kid, waiting to see if our first visitor was dark or fair.

And to make this a totally Scottish post, most of us hear Auld Lang Syne sung as the ball drops or at various New Years Celebrations. Below are the original, translation: unintelligible, words followed by the translation ... equally difficult to understand. No doubt, you will make them up tonight, much as I will :)

The Original lyrics by Robbie Burns:

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

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my jo,

For auld lang syne,

We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

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.

CHORUS

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.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

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

CHORUS

A translation you and I understand:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old times since ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS