HOGMANAY

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 1 January 2012

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HOGMANAY  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) a celebration of New Year’s Eve or New Year’s day
2. (n.) a present requested or given on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s day, or a shout or cry used to elicit gifts on those days

Useful information for game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: -S
• Anagrams: MAHOGANY
• Longer extensions: (none)
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: HOGMANE, HOGMENAY
• Related Forms: (none)

Epilogue:
Traditional customs associated with HOGMANAY / HOGMENAY / HOGMANE are described in several old books, such as:

In Scotland the last day of the old year was called ‘Hogmanay,’ and in England ‘Hagmana’; and in both countries the evening of that day was passed by a great part of the community in mirth and jollity, visiting one another and first-footing from door to door with hot pints, dram bottles, cheese-cakes, and other goodies — both gentle and sympill joining in boisterous congratulations, shaking of hands, and wishing many happy returns of the eve to their fellow-jovials.
~ David Robertson & Robert Reid, Glasgow, Past and Present (1884)

First-footing was a custom wherein the first person to cross the threshold of a home in the wee hours of the new year was thought to bring good luck to the house — all the more so, naturally, if the first-footer brought food, drink, and gifts.

Though some of the old traditions may have fallen out of fashion, modern versions of HOGMANAY are still popular, especially in parts of Scotland. For example, this year’s “Edinburgh’s Hogmanay” event featured live music, fireworks, a torchlight procession, and other festivities.

The ultimate etymology of the word is a little murky.  It may be from an Old French word meaning “New Year’s Day” or “New Year’s gift” or from an old Scandinavian word related to YULE celebrations, but, in any case, the word started appearing regularly in English (with a variety of creative spellings) in the 1600s.

Happy New Year!


This week’s theme: Words for a new year

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