Christmas not celebrated; stockings hung up at Hogmanay; oth...
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1985.141.A9; SA1985.141.A10; SA1985.141.A11
Original Tape ID
Summary
Christmas not celebrated; stockings hung up at Hogmanay; other New Year traditions.
Christmas was not celebrated when Gladys Simpson and her husband were young. It was a working day. On Hogmanay children hung up stockings on the mantelpiece rail for Santa Claus to put small gifts in. Mrs Simpson recalls one unusual New Year when she got a china doll, but broke it in a quarrel with her sister. Whisky, port, cake and shortbread were laid out at Hogmanay for visitors. A first foot was preferably a dark-haired man, and would bring a lump of coal. Red or fair hair was unlucky. There was a special dinner on New Year's Day: broth and the hen which was boiled in it, and a cloutie dumpling. Trinkets were put in dumplings at parties or birthdays.
Recording Location
County - Inverness-shire
Parish - Sleat
Island - Skye
Village/Place - Ardvasar
Item Location
County - Banffshire
Parish - Keith
Village/Place - Keith
Language
English, Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good