SUSAN TIPPETT BRAITHWAITE

Welcome #21 of Things in Scots!—a fun collaboration with my husband, Jez (Mind an gie Jez’s post a keek.)

It’s the last day of the year, and all over the world, people are marking 2019’s end. We couldn’t end the year without one of the most famous words in the Scots Leid.

Today’s Things in Scots is: Hogmanay.

Hogmanay (also Hugmanay, Hogmanae and many other variations) means the last day of the year, year’s end, and New Year’s Eve. It is also a New Year’s gift, hospitality given to celebrate the New Year, and the money given to tradespeople and employees on that day.

Hogmanay is one of my favorite words in any language, even though I used to trip over how to say it as a kid. (I’d mix it up with the Inglis word mahogany—nice anagram. The only way I could separate the words was to think of what happens on New Year’s day, where you hug monie (many) people.)

And, weird little tangent over.

Here’s an example of Hogmanay in use:

Fae oor faimly tae yers, hae blithe Hogmany, an aa e best fur a 2020 fou o heilth, walth, an seil!

In Inglis: From our family to yours, have a Happy Hogmanay, and all the best for a 2020 filled with health, wealth, and happiness!

If you want to ken the Scots for anything, just ask in the comments section.

Thenks fur stoapin by, and hae a wunnerfu day.

Things in Scots — Post History

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