Travel Search:

Custom Search

Dienstag, 16. Dezember 2008

Hogmanay - Celebrate An Unforgetable New Year in Scotland


For a New Year celebration you’ll never forget, head for a Scottish Hogmanay party. No one celebrates New Year quite like the Scots, who start celebrating Hogmanay on 29 December and don’t stop till 1 January.

The Hogmanay celebrations are probably inherited from the Vikings, who coming from further north than Scotland, paid more attention to the passing of the shortest day.

Most Hogmanay celebrations and traditions start on 31 December, when it is traditional to clean out the house and clear your debts. Every year, most towns and cities in Scotland have public Hogmanay celebrations, usually involving firework displays.

The most famous Hogmanay celebration is in Edinburgh, where the celebrations have evolved into a 4-day winter festival. On 29 December, there’s a dazzling torchlight procession from from to Royal Mile to Calton Hill overlooking the city.

Thousands of people – some dressed as Vikings dragging a Viking warship – make their way up the Hill to set the ship alight, watch a firework display and enjoy lively musicians and entertainers.

30 December is the Night Afore Fiesta – a family carnival with music, dance and street theatre. On New Year’s Eve, it’s Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party, when thousands of people gather in the city centre for a night of concerts and partying.

There’s also a concert at the foot of Edinburgh Castle, and funky ceilidh bands at East Princes Street Gardens, all ready to give you the best New Year’s Eve of your life!

But the Hogmanay celebrations don’t end there. There’s more on New Year’s Day (known as Ne’er’s Day). First, there’s the One O’ Clock Run, a gentle, 1-mile fun run that’s open to everyone. A family favourite is Edinburgh’s Dogmanay, where Samoyed and Siberian Huskies team up for dog sled races through Holyrood Park.

If you didn’t overindulge the night before, there’s the Edinburgh Triathlon, where you’ll have to swim 8 lengths of the Royal Commonwealth Pool, cycle 3 times round Arthur’s Seat (11miles) then go round it one more time on foot.

Alternatively, if you’re still suffering from the night before, why not wake yourself up by throwing yourself into the icy waters of the Firth of Forth? It’s called the Loony Dook, and might just be the perfect hangover cure.

There’s lots more celebrations on New Year’s Day, including the Hogmanay Jazz Fringe, The New Year’s Day McEwan Sessions and church services all over the city.

And if you think all this partying might prove too much for you, don’t worry, 2 January is a Bank Holiday in Scotland, so you’ll have lots of time to recover.

Source: www.visitbritain.us

Keine Kommentare:

Recommend Our Site & Get Your Free Ebook


Your Name:

Your E-mail:
Friend's E-mail:
Comments:

Tell a Friend Form Version 3