Talk:Hogmanay

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So, like how do you pronounce this word? - Anon reader

Something like hog-mah-NAY, as I recall, but we should find a Scot to be sure. —Morven 01:42, Jan 1, 2005 (UTC)

Absolutely correct, Morven. Lang may yer lum reek! (and other Hogmanay greetings). -- Derek Ross | Talk 08:49, 2005 Jan 1 (UTC) (A genuine Scot)

I've added a pronunciation guide to the article. rossb 16:28, 8 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I think that as it's a Scots word it's fair enough to give the pronunciation in Scottish Standard English -- i.e. no eɪ diphthong or ɒ vowel, which aren't used in SSE -- so I've changed the IPA accordingly. A guid new year tae aabodie, whan it comes -- Mendor 13:55, 28 December 2005 (UTC)

I'd like to take issue with the professed pronunciation. Yes, it's spelt Hog- , but in the entirety of my experience, and limited to actual Scots speakers, it is pronounced HUG-ma-NAY; that is, there is a half-stress on HUG, ma is unstressed, and a full stress on NAY.

Nuttyskin 22:23, 11 September 2006 (UTC)

Just goes to show you've never met me. I agree with what you've got to say about stressing. But some Scots say "hug"; some say "hog". I'm one of the latter. -- Derek Ross | Talk 14:39, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Is it important for the first foot to cross a threshold in the new year be a right foot (i.e. not a left one)? Doops | talk 20:57, 4 October 2005 (UTC)

The first foot is a person not a foot, so the question doesn't really make sense. The important thing about the person is not which foot they use to cross the threshold but whether they are tall, dark, rich, handsome, male and bearing the appropriate gifts (score one luck point for each of the foregoing that applies to your first foot, <grin>). -- Derek Ross | Talk 02:06, 5 October 2005 (UTC)

OK, sorry; I should have asked about the first foot's first foot. :) Doops | talk 04:38, 5 October 2005 (UTC)

Is there any evidence to back up the "hug me now" suggestion being true? -- (Someone who didn't sign)

Not that I know of. That is why the article says However none of these is more than guesswork. There is little or no evidence for any of the suggested etymologies including the "hug-me-now" one. -- Derek Ross | Talk 00:44, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] greetings

so, how does one wish someone else a happy hogmanay? What is commonly said - what do cards say, etc? "Happy Hogmanay?" "Merry Hogmanay?"

What are the traditional and common greetings?

Not sure about traditional in Scotland, but my Grandfather used to follow the same ritual every Hogmanay. The first footer always brings a small bag of salt, a small piece of coal and a bottle of whiskey, and knocks on the door on the stroke of midnight. When I was a young lad, the firt footer was also accompanied by a piper who would play "My Home" or some other good tune! The first footer would greet the home owner with something like:

Good sir, I bring you salt to salt your meat, and I bring you coal to keep your fire lit. From me and mine, to you an yours Happy New year, and lang may your lum reak! The first footer then hands over the salt and coal.

The home owner then responds with something like, and a happy new year to you and yours. Will you share a dram before joining us?

At this point, a nip of scotch is shared from their respective bottles, with the toast being (I don't know the spelling so I will write it phoenetically) slanjee va!

The the first footer and the home owner enter the house together and everyone in the houselhold takes a wee dram from both bottles. In our houselhold, it didn't matter if you were 5 or 50, you still got a nip.

We carry on the tradition to this day!

slanjee va!

This is the Gaelic slainte bha, "Your health!" This is often shortened to "Slainte!" ("Health!"), pronounced slanj.

Evidently fed up with people asking for someone called Slaynt, a Scottish kilt hire firm has begun using the spelling Slanj.

Nuttyskin 23:57, 11 September 2006 (UTC)

The correct spelling is "Slàinte Mhath". Pronunciation (in IPA): [ˈsl̴aːɲʧə vã]). The literal meaning is "Good Health", but as it is used as a toast is also sometimes given the colloquial translation of "Cheers!" --Kathryn NicDhàna 05:25, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

I was told by an old Scottish lady (who died about 10yr ago) about a Hogmanay tradition of standing in a circle around a camp fire and throwing young children over it to someone who would catch the child on them other side.

She also said it's roots went right back to Pagan worship of "Molec", to whom the Pagans sacrificed their childred in the fire.