0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Until a generation ago, the two principal tribes in these islands had a wholly divergent approach to the year's final week. The English celebrated Christmas, a jollity that they had spent centuries in embellishing. But there was no public holiday on New Year's Day.In Scotland, that was the most sacred holiday of them all, while Christmas was a normal working day. The Scots were suspicious of Christmas. The "mas" bit sounded Popish, and it was all bound up with the New Testament. The Scots preferred the Old one.Over the past few decades, the ceremonies would appear to have converged, as the whole nation closes down for a fortnight. Yet there are still profound differences, expressive of national character: and the English do not know how to celebrate the New Year.
That is why a proper Scottish New Year does not start until midnight. The previous hours are spent lining the stomach with heavy food and non-alcoholic beverages, such as wine
