To think Hogmanay in Scotland should go back to what it used to be?

[Salmotrutta]

People First Footing their neighbours for a wee while, having a knees up, a drink or two (and taking a First Foot offering) then going home in the wee small hours?

This ridiculous trend for Fireworks and rock bands (thanks BBC Scotland ) is so far removed from a traditional Hogmanay I just can't be arsed with it anymore.

Disclaimer: I am talking about Hogmanay in Scotland not "New Years in any other country

Dh was invited next door to first foot. He is tall dark and handsome, but ironically he is English and our neighbour Welsh, so you don't need to be Scottish to enjoy keeping these traditions alive.

I used to live in Fraserburgh, 'The Broch' and was horrified at New Year as there were metal shutters nailed up on shops, everything shut for days, and people seemed scared to leave their homes. It was a contrast to living on the outskirts of Glasgow, where there were first footers, open house at New Year, and weans stayed up far too late!

Hogmanay in the late 70s/80s up here meant sitting in someone's house watching crap telly, or pubs/clubs as we got older. We never, ever did the whole first footing round the neighbours houses - that seemed to die out much earlier. It's only ever been something I've heard about - never actually witnessed or took part in.

We have a first footer every year :) half of family is Scottish but we don't live there

I miss proper Hogmanay too. Dad going first-footing my Gran; Gran, aunts and uncles coming to our flat, watching Andy Stewart on the telly (later years, Rikki Fulton's 'Scotch & Wry' ); music, dancing, singing (lots of singing), drinking whisky, drinking Ginger Wine that we'd made back in November - yep, good times !

(Oh, and Steak Pie from the butchers' for breakfast - but that might have been just our family rather than a general thing.)

We were first footing until 4am his morning. Great night

*this

1 neightbour 2 small kids the other elderly. Had relatives round and kids asleep upstairs so not able to traipse around the street. The Scottish TV was awful though. I have fond memories of Edinburgh new years in my 20s. but that was before they started commercialising it and selling tickets/ having rock bands etc. You used to just get pissed and then hug strangers in Princes St.

Joppa/ Portobello is great for walking along the Prom, meeting pals and watching bonfires. It's much more like the atmosphere you used to get up the Tron.

Then there's the Loony Dook on Ne'er Day

A lot of first footing used to be done amongst friends and family, it's more difficult to do now as families tend to live futher apart from each other.