Every month, Mrs Hudson, along with her three children and Dinky the Irish Wolfhound investigate the best family and dog-friendly heritage attractions that the UK has to offer.
When it comes to New Year, we all have our own traditions. Some of us like to stay up until Midnight to see in the New Year, perhaps with a kiss from a loved ones and a fire work displays. Others go all out and join in a Hogmanay-type celebration like we see every year in Scotland, but did you know at one time, there were a host of different traditions associated with New Year?
Here are some of the forgotten traditions from New Year that were popular around the UK.
Tooling
As someone from Wales, we’re starting off with this Welsh tradition which carried on until around the 19th century. Tooling saw tradesmen going around farmhouses and hiding their tools behind their beer casks – the farmer would then return the tools with a mug of beer.
A great way to get some pre drinks in!
Hiding a ring in a drink
This one is a popular one – especially in the Peak District and Northern England. On New Year’s Eve, a large creamy drink called a posset would be made and served at a house party. It was made from beer, eggs, spices, milk and currents and was served warm, which sounds disgusting, but put that aside for the moment. The lady of the house would place her wedding ring in the drink and it was believed that the person who found it in their drink would get married before the end of the year.
Leaving footprints
I’d hate this but on the Isle of Man, it was custom that to spread out the asjes from the fire around the floor on New Year’s Eve. The following morning, you would come down and check for footprints, if the toes of the boot point to the door, this was an omen of a death in the family, if they point away from the door, there will be a birth in the family.
Either way, I would be annoyed at having to clear ashy footprints off the floor!
Throwing away cake
In Ireland, there used to be a custom where the head of the household would bake a cake and then throw it out the front door. Apparently, this was to ward off hunger for the coming year, it’s not one I’ll be implementing at the Hudson household, there’s not often cake left once it comes out of the oven.
Do you still do any of these long forgotten traditions? In the Hudson household, our New Year traditions include a picky tea with our friends and family with lots of games before heading outside to enjoy the fireworks with the kids.
Whatever you do, we hope you have a lovely festive season and wish you all the best in the coming year!
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