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Happy Hogmanay as we say in Scotland. Lang may your lum reek. Translation: Long may your chimney smoke, so wishing you plenty of fuel to keep your fire burning bright and you nice and warm in the cold and dark days of winter.

There is an old tradition in Scotland, called “first footing”. After midnight of the old year on 31st December, to bring you good luck, the first visitor to your house should be a young, dark-haired, handsome man.  And to ensure you stay warm, he brings a lump of coal. Also salt, black bun (a rich fruit cake) and a “hawf bottle” of whiskey. These represent warmth, wealth, food and good cheer.

Once entered into the home, a toast is offered to the house and all within it, using the important whiskey of which everyone should have a few wee drams on Hogmanay. The traditional taost is: “A guid New Year to ane an a’ and many may ye see”. This is a good New Year of one and all and many more may you see.

And that is my wish for you too in 2013.

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