Traditional Celtic and Non Celtic Festivals of Scotland:       First Four-Month

First Footing – January 1

After New Year’s Eve it is very common to visit relatives and friends in the first hours of the morning of January 1^st. This is called first footing,  after the New Year’s bell ringing, the first foot ( the first person) who gets into the house after midnight should be, according to tradition, a dark and handsome male, and should carry symbolic coal, shortbread, salt, black bun and whisky.

Handsel Monday: First Monday of the New Year

Traditionally presents or handsels were given by employers to their staff; in some areas this was done on January 12.

Burning of the Clavie – January 11

In Burghead,  Morayshire, a barrel filled with tar is carried around the harbour and then to the Doorie Hill where the Druids used to light their fires. It is burnt there.

Up-Helly-aa

It’s held in Lerwick on the Shetland Islands on the last Tuesday of January. A big Viking galley with shields and oars is pulled by a procession who, dressed as Viking Warriors and holding lit torches, push the big ship into the sea. There are three cheers for the ship builders and then it’s burnt.

Burns’ Night – January 25

A special celebration with Athol Brose and haggis to commemorate the birth of Scotland’s National bar, Robert Burns.  A speech in his honour will be given before reciting some of his poems.

Candlemas Day - 2 February

Candlemas began as a Roman festival to celebrate the return of Spring. Now it’s a Scottish Legal term “Quarter Day” the day when rent and other payments are due.

St Valentine's Day - 14th February

This used to be an excuse for young people to go around begging for sweets, money or fruit, while older brothers and sisters tried to find a sweetheart. Sometimes “name-papers” were used, names were written down and then placed in a bonnet and each person would draw out a paper. If the same name was drawn three times, it meant a marriage would take place.

Whuppity Scoorie – 1^st March

A lively celebration carried out by young lads in Lanark, when it was believed that making a lot of noise would frighten the evil spirits. Participants used to hit one another with balls of paper tied with string.

Original New Year – 25^th March

The Celtic New Year was celebrated on Samhain (November 1^st) until 1600. The Gregorian calendar used in Scotland places the New Year on March 25.

Fastern's E'en

It was the last Tuesday before Lent. It was a carnival and feast held before the sacrifices of Lent during which meat, butter and fat were used up. Around Scotland the day had different names such as Bannock Night, Beef Brose and Shriften E’en. 

Easter

There was a festival for “Eastre” a Saxon goddess of fertility in pre-Christian times which was integrated into the Christian calendar. The date varies because the calculation is based on the phases of the moon. Today in Scotland, “hot cross buns” are baked, containing spices, fruit and a white pastry cross. 

Hunt the Gowk – April 1^st

On this day people would tell lies to each other. But this had to stop at midday. Now it’s known as April Fool’s day; hunting the gowk was originally sending somebody on a foolish errand.

Dinna laugh, an’ dinna smile

April 2^nd : the day when paper tails were attached to the backs of unsuspecting people as a joke.

Glen Saturday

The first or third Saturday in April when the children of Kilmarnock in Ayrshire went to Crawfurdland Castle to pick daffodils.

Whitsunday

The seventh Sunday after Easter.

Second Four-month / Third Four-month

Copyright Monica Loreto