Despite all of this, there are some Christmas traditions that can be traced back many years in Scotland, and a few that were passed on to become New Year (or Hogmanay, as it’s called here) traditions instead.
When all of this was banned Scots couldn’t be without a party, of course, so they moved celebrations to a week later to the New Year, and Hogmanay became the biggest celebration of the year.
The log would be lit using a piece of the previous year’s log, and it was said that those sitting around the burning fire would have good luck and prosperity for the year ahead.
The first footer is the first person to cross the threshold on the day (now New Year’s Day) and would carry money, bread or black bun, and coal or peat said to bring wealth, lack of want, and warmth to the household.