HOGMANAY

In Scotland, December 31 is known as Hogmanay, the word children use to ask for their traditional present of an oatmeal cake (which is why this is also called Cake Day). It’s believed that Hogmanay originated with the invading Vikings who celebrated the passing of the winter solstice with much revelry. Immediately after midnight it is traditional to sing Robert Burns’ “Auld Lang Syne”— “Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We’ll take a cup o kindness yet, for auld lang syne.” Along with fireworks and fireworks, “First footing” (or the “first foot” in the house after midnight) is still common across Scotland. The first person to cross the threshold into one’s home, called the first footer, is an indication of the year to come. Although the tradition varies, if the first footer is tall and dark, the year will be a good one. Of course, the entire spirit of a Hogmanay party is to welcome both friends and strangers with warm hospitality and of course lots of kissing all-around!

Every Year

• MAKE UP YOUR MIND DAY
• HOGMANAY
• ST. SYLVESTER

1490s

• BORN 1491: JACQUES CARTIER (EXPLORER)

1690s

• 1695: A WINDOW TAX WAS IMPOSED IN ENGLAND, CAUSING MANY SHOPKEEPERS TO BRICK UP THEIR WINDOWS TO AVOID THE TAX

1790s

• 1796: BALTIMORE, MARYLAND WAS INCORPORATED

1850s

• 1857: OTTAWA SELECTED BY QUEEN VICTORIA AS CAPITAL OF PROVINCE OF CANADA

1860s

• BORN 1869: HENRI MATISSE (ARTIST)

1870s

• 1879: THE CORNERSTONE FOR THE IOLANI PALACE IN HONOLULU, HAWAII, WAS LAID

1900s

• BORN 1905: JULE STYNE (COMPOSER)

1920s

• 1929: GUY LOMBARDO AND HIS ROYAL CANADIANS FIRST PLAYED “AULD LANG SYNE” AT MIDNIGHT

1930s

• BORN 1930: ODETTA (AMERICAN FOLK SINGER)
• 1935: C. B. DARROW RECEIVED A PATENT FOR HIS MONOPOLY GAME
• BORN 1937: ANTHONY HOPKINS (ACTOR)

1940s

• BORN 1943: JOHN DENVER (SINGER)
• BORN 1943: BEN KINGSLEY (ACTOR)
• 1947: ENTERTAINER ROY ROGERS AND ACTRESS DALE EVANS WERE MARRIED
• BORN 1948: DONNA SUMMER (SINGER)

1950s

• BORN 1959: VAL KILMER (ACTOR)

1960s

• BORN 1965: NICHOLAS SPARKS (AUTHOR)

1980s

• DIED 1985: RICK NELSON (SINGER)

1990s

• 1991: HELIUM-FILLED SUN SHADE PATENTED
• 1995: THE LAST NEW CALVIN AND HOBBES CARTOON STRIP WAS PUBLISHED25 Years Ago
• BORN 1995: GABBY DOUGLAS (GYMNAST, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST)

2000s

• 2005: AN EXTRA SECOND, OR LEAP SECOND, WAS ADDED TO CLOCKS WORLDWIDE

2010s

• DIED 2014: EDWARD HERRMANN (ACTOR)
• DIED 2015: NATALIE COLE (SINGER)

COURTESY www.almanac.com