I. WALSHE T. KHIMUNINA N. KONON

GBGREAT BRITAIN: CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

St.-Petersburg ÁÁÊ 81.2Àíãë Ó63

Óîëø È. À., Õèìóíèíà Ò. Í., Êîíîí Í. Â. Ó 63 Âåëèêîáðèòàíèÿ: îáû÷àè è òðàäèöèè.– ÑÏá.: Àíòîëîãèÿ, 2005.– 224 ñ., èë. ISBN 5-94962-090-9 Îñíîâíîå îòëè÷èå êíèãè â òîì, ÷òî áûò, òðàäèöèè è îáû÷àè ðÿäîâûõ àíãëè÷àí ïîêàçûâàþòñÿ áåç êàêîãî-ëèáî ïðåëîìëåíèÿ, ãëàçàìè ñàìèõ àíãëè÷àí. Îíà çíàêîìèò íå òîëüêî ñ êàëåíäàðíûìè è ñåìåéíûìè ïðàçäíèêàìè, ïîïóëÿðíûìè ñïîñîáàìè ïðîâåäåíèÿ äîñóãà, íî è ñ ðàçëè÷íûìè òîðæåñòâàìè, ôåñòèâàëÿìè, ïðîèñõîäÿùèìè â ðàçíûõ ÷àñòÿõ Àíãëèè â òå÷åíèå ãîäà. Êíèãà ìîæåò áûòü èñïîëüçîâàíà â êà÷åñòâå ïîñîáèÿ ïî ñòðàíîâåäåíèþ äëÿ èçó÷àþùèõ àíãëèéñêèé ÿçûê è êóëüòóðó Âåëèêîáðèòàíèè.

ÁÁÊ 81.2Àíãë

© Óîëø È. À., Õèìóíèíà Ò. Í., Êîíîí Í. Â., 2005 ISBN 5-94962-090-9 © Àíòîëîãèÿ, 2005 Îò ñîñòàâèòåëåé Íàêîíåö-òî êíèãà îá àíãëèéñêèõ îáû÷àÿõ, ñîñòàâëåííàÿ íà êàôåäðå àíãëèéñêîé ôèëîëîãèè (ËÃÓ), âûøëà â ñâåò â òîì âèäå, êàê îíà áûëà çàäóìàíà ñîðîê ëåò íàçàä. Èäåÿ ñîçäàíèÿ ïîñîáèÿ ïî ñòðàíîâåäåíèþ ïðèíàäëåæèò íàøåìó îáùåìó Ó÷èòåëþ – Âåðå Ðîìàíîâíå Êóïðèÿíîâîé, êîòîðàÿ áûëà ñîñòàâèòåëåì è êîììåíòàòîðîì çàìå÷àòåëüíîé êíèãè äëÿ ÷òåíèÿ «A Book of England», èçäàí- íîé â 1963 ãîäó. Èçâåñòíî, ÷òî îäíè òðàäèöèè ñóùåñòâóþò âåêàìè (÷ó÷åëî Ãàÿ Ôîêñà ñæèãàþò íà êîñòðå âîò óæå 400 ëåò, 5 íîÿáðÿ êàæäîãî ãîäà), à äðóãèå íå çàäåðæèâàþòñÿ (Îëäåðìàñòîíñêèå ìàðøè ìèðà íà ïàñõàëüíîé íåäåëå àêòèâíî ïðîèñõîäèëè â 1958–1963 ãã., à òåïåðü èõ ñìåíèëè äðóãèå ôîðìû áîðüáû çà ðàçîðóæåíèå); îäíàêî è òå è äðóãèå îñòàþòñÿ â àíãëèéñêîé èñòîðèè, î íèõ âñïîìèíàþò â õóäîæåñòâåííîé ëèòåðàòóðå è êèíîôèëüìàõ, î íèõ ïèøóò ñîöèîëîãè è ïîëèòîëîãè.  êíèãó âêëþ÷å- íû è âîçíèêøèå ñîâñåì íåäàâíî òðàäèöèè (íàïðèìåð, ëàòèíîàìåðèêàíñêèé êàðíàâàë â Ëîíäîíå). Ïîìîùü è ïîääåðæêó ïðè îáíîâëåíèè êíèãè îêàçàëè íåñêîëüêî áðèòàíñêèõ ñïåöèàëèñòîâ (ëèíã- âèñòû, ëèòåðàòóðîâåäû, ïîëèòîëîã, þðèñò, ìóçûêîâåä) è äåñÿòêè ëþäåé, çàèíòåðåñîâàííûõ â ðàçâè- òèè ñâÿçåé ìåæäó íàøèìè ñòðàíàìè.

5 Contents

ÎÒ ÑÎÑÒÀÂÈÒÅËÅÉ ...... 5

Chapter I BRITAIN ROUND THE CALENDAR PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS ...... 17 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 1995...... 17 NEW YEAR IN ENGLAND...... 18 IRST OOT...... 19 THE NIGHT O HOGMANAY...... 20 NEW YEAR’S DAY OR “THE MORNING ATER THE NIGHT BEORE”...... 21 THE LAMBEAUX PROCESSION ...... 22 TAR-BARREL BURNING...... 22 AULD LANG SYNE...... 22 ST.VALENTINE’S DAY – EBRUARY 14...... 23 VALENTINE GITS ...... 24 PANCAKE DAY ...... 25 PANCAKE BELL ...... 26 PANCAKE RACE ...... 26 THE OLNEY PANCAKE RACE ...... 27 PANCAKE GREAZE ...... 27 SHROVETIDE OOTBALL ...... 27 Ashbourne’s Shrovetide ootball...... 28 STUDENT RAGS ...... 28 MOTHERING SUNDAY (MOTHER’S DAY) ...... 29 EASTER...... 30 GOOD RIDAY ...... 30 EASTER ...... 30 ANCIENT TRADITIONS ...... 31 EASTER EGGS ...... 31 EGG-ROLLING ...... 32

7 HOT GROSS BUNS...... 32 LONDON’S EASTER PARADE...... 33 EASTER PEACE MARCHES...... 33 Easter Peace Marches 1978–1980 ...... 34 March 1978 ...... 34 Anti-Bomb Petition on Streets ...... 34 20th Anniversary of the irst Aldermaston March...... 34 April 1980 ...... 34 World Disarmament Convention ...... 34 The H-Bomb’s Thunder ...... 35 APRIL OOLS’ DAY ...... 36 ALL OOLS’ DAY ...... 36 A PRACTICAL JOKE ...... 37 AN APRIL OOL’S DAY HOAX ...... 37 MAY DAY (MAY 1) ...... 38 MAY 1 – DAY O SOLIDARITY ...... 38 MAYPOLE...... 38 MAY QUEEN ...... 39 MERRY ENGLAND AND LONDON MAY QUEEN ESTIVAL ...... 39 LABOUR DAY (MAY DAY) ...... 40 MANY MAY DAY MILESTONES...... 40 MAY SPRING ESTIVAL ...... 40 WHITSUNTIDE...... 41 CHEESE-ROLLING...... 41 MORRIS DANCING...... 41 SPRING BANK HOLIDAY ...... 42 LATE SUMMER BANK HOLIDAY...... 42 HAPPY HAMPSTEAD ...... 43 THE NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL ...... 43 How They Line up for London’s Loudest, Liveliest Carnival ...... 43 THE LAST SUMMER BREAK!...... 44 RAMBLING. A CROWNING GLORY...... 45 Continue ...... 45 Division ...... 46 THE BRAEMAR GATHERING ...... 46 THE HIGHLAND GAMES ...... 46 BATTLE O BRITAIN WEEK ...... 47 HALLOWEEN ...... 47 HALLOWEEN PARTY ...... 48 GUY AWKES NIGHT (BONIRE NIGHT) – NOVEMBER 5 ...... 49 AMOUS GUNPOWDER PLOT – OR INAMOUS PLOY ...... 50 REMEMBER, REMEMBER...... 50

8 GUY AWKES NIGHT ...... 51 PENNY OR THE GUY ...... 51 SEARCHING THE HOUSES O PARLIAMENT ...... 51 TRAALGAR SQUARE ON BONIRE NIGHT ...... 52 OTTERY ST.MARY CARNIVAL ...... 54 DO’S AND DON’TS ...... 55 REMEMBRANCE DAY, REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY...... 56 REMEMBRANCE DAY (POPPY DAY) ...... 57 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ...... 57 CHRISTMAS...... 58 CHRISTMAS TIME ...... 58 OPINIONS DIER...... 59 CHRISTMAS EVE ...... 59 CHRISTMAS CAROLS...... 60 KING’S COLLEGE CAROLS...... 60 CAROLS AT YORK MINSTER ...... 60 Once in Royal David’s City ...... 60 Oh, Come All Ye aithful ...... 61 CHRISTMAS GREENERY ...... 61 CHRISTMAS DAY (25th DECEMBER)...... 62 CHRISTMAS GITS ...... 63 OICE PRESENTS ...... 63 CHRISTMAS BOX ...... 63 CHRISTMAS CARDS ...... 64 THE CHRISTMAS ROBIN ...... 64 CHRISTMAS TREE...... 65 A GIANT CHRISTMAS TREE...... 66 CHRISTMAS HUMOUR ...... 66 NOT SANTA CLAUS...... 66 BOXING DAY ...... 67 CHRISTMAS MUMMERS...... 67 THE CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME ...... 68 A CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME ...... 68 THE STORY O MOTHER GOOSE ...... 70 TWELTH NIGHT...... 70

Chapter II ESTIVALS AND AIRS ARTS ESTIVALS...... 73 ESTIVAL CALENDAR (SHORT-LIST)...... 73 BURNS NIGHT ...... 75 THE LONDON ARTS SEASON ...... 75 THE SHAKESPEARE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS ...... 76 GLYNDEBOURNE ...... 77

9 THE BATH ESTIVAL...... 78 THE CHICHESTER THEATRE ESTIVAL ...... 78 HENRY WOOD PROMENADE CONCERTS...... 79 “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Proms!”...... 79 THE WELSH EISTEDDODAU...... 79 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL ESTIVAL ...... 80 THAT TATTOO POUNDS ACROSS OUR BEDROOM LOOR ...... 81 THE EDINBURGH ESTIVAL ...... 82 HARVEST ESTIVAL ...... 84 THE HARVEST SUPPER ...... 84 HARVEST ESTIVALS WITH A DIERENCE ...... 85 AIRS ...... 85 NOTTINGHAM GOOSE AIR ...... 86 THE DICKENS AIR (ROCHESTER, EARLY JUNE) ...... 89

Chapter III TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES IN LONDON CHANGING THE GUARD ...... 93 MOUNTING THE GUARD...... 94 THE CEREMONY O THE KEYS ...... 95 TROOPING THE COLOUR...... 95 THE SOVEREIGN’S ENTRY INTO THE CITY O LONDON ...... 96 SWAN-UPPING ...... 96 HE’S NICKING THE ROYAL SWANS ...... 97 ELECTING LONDON’S LORD MAYOR ...... 97 THE LORD MAYOR’S SHOW ...... 98 THE STATE OPENING O PARLIAMENT ...... 99 SEARCHING THE VAULTS ...... 100

Chapter IV ENGAGEMENTS, WEDDINGS, BIRTHS AND UNERALS ENGAGEMENTS...... 103 GETTING ENGAGED ...... 103 WEDDINGS ...... 104 THE ORMS O MARRIAGE ...... 104 TIMES O WEDDINGS ...... 105 MARRIAGE IN SCOTLAND ...... 105

10 GRETNA GREEN – A TOURIST ATTRACTION ...... 105 THE PREPARATION ...... 105 DIVISION O RESPONSIBILITIES ...... 106 THE SECRETS O RUNNING A SUCCESSUL WEDDING...... 107 THE CEREMONY ...... 108 THE ORM O SOLEMNIZATION O MARRIAGE...... 108 THE RECEPTION ...... 110 WEDDING PRESENTS...... 110 MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE ...... 110 LOVE AND MARRIAGE NOW AS DATED AS A HORSE AND CARRIAGE ...... 111 I THREW AWAY THE BURNT TOAST AND PREPARED PLANNING AGAIN ...... 112 PLANNING A “QUIET” WEDDING ...... 113 SOME O THE CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY ...... 117 BIRTHS AND CHRISTENINGS...... 118 TWENTY-IRST BIRTHDAYS ...... 119 MARRIAGES THEN AND NOW ...... 119 UNERALS ...... 119

Chapter V LEISURE EVERYDAY LEISURE PURSUITS...... 123 SPORTS...... 123 POPULAR SPORTS ROM A TO Z ...... 124 Angling ...... 124 Athletics ...... 124 Badminton ...... 124 Basketball ...... 124 Bowls ...... 124 Indoor Bowls ...... 125 Cricket ...... 125 The Birthplace of Cricket ...... 126 Cycling ...... 126 ootball ...... 126 Golf ...... 127 Greyhound Racing ...... 128 Greyhound Races ...... 128 Horse Racing ...... 128 Hunting ...... 129 Ice Skating ...... 130 Martial Arts ...... 130 Motor-car Sports ...... 130

11 Mountaineering ...... 130 Netball ...... 130 Rowing ...... 131 Rugby ootball ...... 131 Skiing ...... 131 Snooker and Billiards ...... 131 Snooker ...... 132 Swimming ...... 132 Table Tennis ...... 132 Tennis ...... 133 Tenpin Bowling ...... 133 Volleyball ...... 133

TRADITIONAL SPORTING CONTESTS ...... 133 THE OXORD-CAMBRIDGE BOAT-RACE ...... 134 The “Blues”...... 134 BUMPING RACES ...... 134 Eights Week at Oxford ...... 134 One Over the Eight ...... 135 CUP INAL ...... 136 Cup ...... 136 Cup inal Glory ...... 136 THE GRAND NATIONAL...... 138 Steeplechasing and Hurdle Racing...... 138 THE DERBY ...... 138 ROYAL ASCOT (MID JUNE) ...... 139 WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIP ...... 139 Game, Jet Set and Match ...... 139 THE HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA ...... 139 TEST MATCHES...... 140 Test Matches Today ...... 140 THE LONDON TO BRIGHTON CAR RALLY ...... 141 GAMBLING ...... 142 BETTING ON HORSES ...... 142 HORSERACE BETTING LEVY ...... 142 BETTING AT GREYHOUND RACES ...... 143 OOTBALL POOLS...... 143 SPOT-THE-BALL COMPETITION ...... 143 OOTBALL POOLS PROMOTERS PROVIDE UNDS OR SPORT AND THE ARTS ...... 144 OUNDATION OR SPORT AND THE ARTS ...... 144 The ootball Trust ...... 144 NATIONAL LOTTERY ...... 144 PLAYING “BINGO” (“LOTTO”) ...... 145

12 EVENING CLASSES ...... 145 URTHER EDUCATION OR ADULTS ...... 146 LEA ...... 146 ALBSU ...... 146 National Organisation of Adult Learning ...... 146 Open and Distance Learning ...... 147 Scottish Community Education Council ...... 147 DANCING ...... 147 EATING ...... 148 ISH AND CHIPS ...... 148 ish and Chips on the Way Home ...... 148 EATING AND DRINKING HABITS 1983–1993 ...... 149 ALCOHOLIC DRINKS CONSUMPTION AMONG TEENAGERS ...... 149 GARDENING ...... 149 THE SUBURBAN GARDEN ...... 150 THE PATIO...... 150 KEEPING PET ANIMALS ...... 151 PUBS AND CLUBS ...... 152 PUBS – TOWN AND COUNTRY ...... 152 TWO PECULIARITIES ABOUT PUBS ...... 154 THE GAME O DARTS ...... 155 CLUBLAND ...... 155 LIBERTY AND LICENCE...... 155 CLUBS ...... 156 CLUB INDS A PLACE OR WOMEN ...... 159 SPORTS CLUBS ...... 159 NIGHT-CLUBS ...... 160 THE WEEKEND ...... 160 LONDON INORMATION ...... 162 SUNDAY IN ENGLAND ...... 162 HYDE PARK ON A SUNDAY MORNING ...... 163 MY BIT O BRITAIN ...... 164 TAMING THE WINTER WILD ...... 164 ANNUAL HOLIDAYS ...... 165 TOURISM AND TRAVEL...... 166 HOLIDAYS WITH PAY ...... 167 Simple Steps Before You Go on Holiday ...... 167 Youth Hostels...... 168 National Youth Hostel Association...... 168 BARGAIN-HUNTING AMILIES LOCK TO HOLIDAY CAMPUSES ...... 169 CARAVANNING...... 170

13 A Caravan Site ...... 171 CAMPING HOLIDAYS ...... 172 We Pitched Our Tents in the Purple Hills ...... 172 HITCH-HIKING ...... 173 ON THE MOVE ...... 173 SUPPLEMENT ...... 177 THE ENGLISHMAN’S LOVE O THE COUNTRYSIDE...... 177 THE ENGLISH ABROAD ...... 178 ENGLAND’S YOUTH ...... 180 THE WEATHER...... 180 SELECTIONS ROM GEORGE MIKES ...... 181 A Warning to Beginners ...... 181 Bank Holidays ...... 182 Soul and Understatement ...... 182 How to Be Rude...... 183 My Personal Contact with the Royal amily ...... 183 On Advertisements ...... 184 On Minding One’s Own Business ...... 185 ROM RUSSIA WITH ICE AND LEMON, PLEASE ...... 186 CALENDAR O EVENTS ...... 188 COLOUR ILLUSTRATIONS ...... 191 NOTES ...... 209

14 Chapter I BRITAIN ROUND THE CALENDAR PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS

There are eight public holidays a year in Great Britain, that is days on which people need not go to work. They are: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday1 and Late Summer Bank Holiday. In Scotland, as opposed to England and Wales, January 2nd is also a public holiday. Most of these holidays are of religious origin, though it would be true to say that for the greater part of the population they have long lost their religious significance and are simply days on which people relax, eat, drink and make merry. All the public holidays, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day observed on December 25th and 26th respectively, and New Year’s Day, are movable, that is they do not fall on the same date each year. Good Friday and Easter Monday depend on Easter Sunday which falls on the first Sunday after a full moon on or after March 21st. May Day (in Scotland called Spring Holiday) falls on the first Monday in May. The Spring Bank Holiday (May Day in Scotland) falls on the last Monday of May, while the Late Summer Bank Holiday comes on the last Monday in August. Besides public holidays, there are other festivals, anniversaries and simply days, for example Pancake Day* and Bonfire Night*, on which certain traditions are observed, but unless they fall on a Sunday, they are ordinary working days. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 1995

1 Jan. New Year’s Day Bank Holiday 2 Jan. Bank Holiday (Scotland only) 17 Mar. St.Patrick’s Day (Northern Ireland only) 1 Apr. Good Friday Holiday 4 Apr. Easter Monday Bank Holiday 2 May May Bank Holiday (Scotland) 8 May VE* Day Bank Holiday (England, Wales, N. Ireland) 30 May Spring Bank Holiday 12 Jul. Orangeman’s Day (Northern Ireland only)

1 The term bank holiday applies also to Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Easter Monday, New Year’s Day and May Day and dates back to the 19th century when by the Bank Holiday Act of 1871 and a supplementary act of 1875 these days as well as the Monday in Whitweek and the first Monday in August, August Bank Holiday, were constituted bank holidays, i. e. days on which banks were to be closed. Bank holidays are not statutory public holidays, but their observance is no longer limited to banks. Since 1965 Whit Monday is no longer a bank holiday, its place was taken by Spring Bank Holiday, whereas the bank holiday formerly observed on the first Monday in August is now observed at the end of August and is called Late Summer Bank Holiday, or, as formerly, August Bank Holiday. 17 2 Aug. Bank Holiday (Scotland only) 30 Aug. Summer Bank Holiday (ex* Scotland) 25 Dec. Christmas Day 26 Dec. Boxing Day Bank Holiday (In Britain, April 1995)

NEW YEAR IN ENGLAND

In England the New Year is not as widely or as enthusiastically observed as Christmas. Some people ignore it completely and go to bed at the same time as usual on New Year’s Eve. Many others, however, do celebrate it in one way or another, the type of celebration varying very much according to the local custom, family tradition and personal taste. The most common type of celebration is a New Year party, either a family party or one arranged by a group of young people. This usually begins at about eight o’clock and goes on until the early hours of the morning. There is a lot of drinking, mainly beer, wine, gin and whisky; sometimes the hosts make a big bowl of punch which consists of wine, spirits, fruit juice and water in varying proportions. There is usually a buffet supper of cold meat, pies, sandwiches, savouries*, cakes and biscuits. At midnight the radio is turned on, so that everyone can hear the chimes of Big Ben*, and on the hour a toast is drunk to the New Year, and Auld Lang Syne* is sung. Then the party goes on. Another popular way of celebrating the New Year is to go to a New Year’s dance. Most hotels and dance halls hold a special dance on New Year’s Eve. The hall is decorated, there are several different bands and the atmosphere is very gay. The most famous celebration is in London round the statue of Eros in Piccadilly Circus* where crowds gather and sing and welcome the New Year. In Trafalgar Square there is also a big crowd and someone usually falls into the fountain. Those who have no desire or no opportunity to celebrate the New Year themselves can sit and watch other people celebrating on television. It is an indication of the relative unimportance of the New Year in England that the television producers seem unable to find any traditional English festivities for their programmes and usually show Scottish ones. January 1st, New Year’s Day, is now a public holiday, fortunately for those who like to celebrate most of the night. Some people send New Year cards and give presents but this is not a widespread custom. This is the traditional time for making “New Year resolutions”, for example, to give up smoking, or to get up earlier. However, these are generally more talked about than put into practice. Also on New Year’s Day the “New Year Honours List” is published in the newspapers, i. e. a list of those who are to be given honours of various types – knighthoods, etc. (Jane Povey)

18 IRST OOT

The first visitor to enter a house on New Year’s morning is commonly known in Great Britain as the First Foot. In Yorkshire he is sometimes called the Lucky Bird, in the Isle of Man, the Quaaltagh. Wherever he appears, he is a personage of great importance. He may be a chance caller, or a man on some errand unconnected with the anniversary or he may be the ceremonial First Foot who comes on purpose to let the New Year into the house and bring good luck to the family. Whichever he is, he is traditionally supposed to influence the fortunes of the householders in the following twelve months, both by the gifts he brings and by his own character and appearance. Hence it is essential everywhere that he should be an individual with certain definite qualities, though what these are varies a little from one region to another. In Scotland and northern England, the custom of First-Footing in the early hours of January 1st is still kept up with great vigour. The First Foot comes as soon as possible after midnight has struck. He brings symbolic gifts of food or fuel or money as tokens of prosperity in the year that has just begun. Sometimes, instead of these presents, or in addition to them, he carries a bunch of evergreens as a promise of continuing life. Nothing must be taken out of the house before these gifts have been brought in, nor should any one go outside until he has arrived. He must be admitted by the front door and, since he is a luck-bringer, he must be hospitably entertained with food and plentiful supplies of wine or spirits. Usually, the First Foot greets all within as he crosses the threshold, and is at once loudly welcomed in return. In some parts of Scotland, however, he does not speak until he has laid a peat or a coal upon the fire. This silent entry and first concern with the hearth, the life-centre of the house, has been recorded in other regions also, and may perhaps represent an older form of the rite. In his English Festivals (1947), Lawrence Whistler describes an impressive version of the ceremony, in which the First Foot carried an evergreen branch in one hand and a sprig of mistletoe in the other. He entered in silence, crossed the room to the hearth, and there laid the green branch upon the flames and the mistletoe on the mantelpiece above. No one spoke while he did this, and only when he turned to wish the assembled company a happy New Year was the general silence broken. The ceremonial First Foot may be one of a band of young men going round from house to house, or a friend of the family who has arranged to let the New Year in for them. Sometimes a man of the right type will undertake to visit every house in a given street or district. Strictly speaking, the First Foot should always be someone from outside the home, but occasionally, when no such early morning visitor is expected, a male member of the household will go out just before midnight and be ceremonially let in again as soon as the hour has struck, with the appropriate gifts in his hand. These, in England, are usually a piece of bread and a piece of coal, as symbols of food and warmth and a coin or a little salt to ensure wealth in the coming year. In Scotland, a bottle of whisky is often included, or a compound of spirits, beer, sugar, and eggs known as a Het Pint. Round Dundee*, and in the fishing villages of the East Coast, a red herring is a lucky gift, as a promise of good fishing to come; and in some Scottish rural areas a sheaf of wheat, symbolizing a good corn-harvest, is often carried. For the First Foot to come empty-handed is a very bad omen, for this means losses and poverty before the year’s end. To be a true luck-bringer, the First Foot should be vigorous and healthy and, if possible, young and good-looking. If he is flat-footed, or cross-eyed, or lamé, if his eyebrows meet across his nose, if he is dressed in black, or appears to be ailing, the omens for the coming twelve months are bad. In most areas,

19 a dark-haired or dark-complexioned man is lucky, though there are local exceptions to this rule. In some east Yorkshire districts, for instance, and in parts of Lincolnshire and Northumberland, the First Foot must be fair. Red hair is very widely disliked. In some counties, a bachelor is best, in others, a married man. Children and adolescent boys are usually popular first visitors, and so in some regions is a man known to be a footling, that is, one who was born feet foremost, and who is consequently supposed to have magical powers of healing. In the Isle of Man, the Quaaltagh may be of either sex, though a man is usually preferred. Similarly, in Scotland a woman can be a lucky First Foot in some areas, though not in all. But in England a female First Foot is a disaster almost everywhere. In the northern counties, where the ceremonial letting-in of the New Year is most widely observed, no woman would ever dream of presenting herself for this purpose. Along the Welsh Border formerly if a woman had occasion to call at a house on January 1st, she was expected to enquire first whether a man had been there before her; if she failed to do this, and came nevertheless, she was suspected of deliberate malice towards the family concerned. Until about sixty or seventy years ago, it was customary in some parts of England for Christmas, as well as New Year, to be ceremonially let in by a First Foot, or Lucky Bird. The accepted First Foot of Christmas was a man, or a boy, of the right type, who came very early on Christmas morning. He entered by the front door and, in many places, walked right through the house, going into every room, and leaving finally by the back door. Unlike the New Year counterpart, he brought no symbolic gifts, though he usually carried a sprig of evergreen. It was, however, essential that something should be given to him. In East Yorkshire, he was sometimes given bread, salt, and a small coin as soon as he crossed the threshold. Elsewhere, the customary gifts were sixpence or a shilling, and a generous portion of Christmas cake, or cheese, with cider, ale, or home-made wine. Unless these, or other gifts were made to the Christmas luck-bringer, very bad luck would follow during the coming year. (A Dictionary of British Folk Customs by Christina Hole)

THE NIGHT O HOGMANAY1

Nowhere else in Britain is the arrival of the New Year celebrated so wholeheartedly as in Scotland. Throughout Scotland, the preparations for greeting the New Year start with a minor “spring-cleaning”. Brass and silver must be glittering and fresh linen must be put on the beds. No routine work may be left unfinished; stockings must be darned, tears mended, clocks wound up, musical instruments tuned, and pictures hung straight. In addition, all outstanding bills are paid, overdue letters written and borrowed books returned. At least, that is the idea! Most important of all, there must be plenty of good things to eat. Innumerable homes “reek of a celestial grocery”* – plum puddings and currant buns, spices and cordials, apples and lemons, tangerines and toffee. In mansion and farmhouse, in suburban villa and city tenement, the table is spread with festive fare. Essential to Hogmanay are “cakes and kebbuck*” (oatcakes and cheese), shortbread, and either black bun or currant loaf. These are flanked with bottles of wine and the “mountain dew” that is the poetic name for whisky. In the cities and burghs, the New Year receives a communal welcome, the traditional gathering-place being the Mercat Cross*, the hub and symbol of the old burgh life. In Edinburgh, however, the crowd has slid a few yards down the hill from the Mercat Cross to the Tron Kirk* – being lured thither, no doubt, by the

1 Hogmanay is a Scottish name for New Year’s Eve.

20 four-faced clock in the tower. As the night advances, Princes Street* becomes as thronged as it normally is at noon, and there is growing excitement in the air. Towards midnight, all steps turn to the Tron Kirk, where a lively, swaying crowd awaits “the Chapplin o’ the Twal” (the striking of 12 o’clock). As the hands of the clock in the tower approach the hour, a hush falls on the waiting throng, the atmosphere grows tense, and then suddenly there comes a roar from thousands of throats. The bells peal forth, the sirens scream – the New Year is born! Many families prefer to bring in the New Year at home, with music or dancing, cards or talk. As the evening advances, the fire is piled high – for the brighter the fire, the better the luck. The members of the household seat themselves round the hearth, and when the hands of the clock approach the hour, the head of the house rises, goes to the front door, opens it wide, and holds it thus until the last stroke of midnight has died away. Then he shuts it quietly and returns to the family circle. He has let the Old Year out and the New Year in. Now greetings and small gifts are exchanged, glasses are filled – and already the First-Footers are at the door. The First-Footer, on crossing the threshold, greets the family with “A gude New Year to ane and a’!”* or simply “A Happy New Year!” and pours out a glass from the flask he carries. This must be drunk to the dregs by the head of the house, who, in turn, pours out a glass for each of his visitors. The glass handed to the First-Footer himself must also be drunk to the dregs. A popular toast is: “Your good health!” The First-Footers must take something to eat as well as to drink, and after an exchange of greetings they go off again on their rounds. (Mozaika) NEW YEAR’S DAY OR “THE MORNING ATER THE NIGHT BEORE”

Inspiring, bold John Barleycorn1! What dangers thou canst make us scorn! Wi’ tippenny2, we fear nae evil; Wi’ usquebae3, we’ll face the devil! Robert Burns (1759–1796) Tam o’Shanter

It was Scotland’s greatest poet who said that after drinking whisky a man became inspired, could scorn danger and was given the courage to face anything, even the devil. But a Scotsman recovering on New Year’s Day after celebrating his great national festival might find it hard to agree with this. He may have been able to face the devil the night before, but the morning after he must face the anger of his wife. She accuses him of having drunk like a fish, alluding to the habit many fish have of swimming with their mouths open, thus appearing to be continually drinking. She accuses him of being as drunk as a lord – an expression dating from the days when English noblemen prided themselves on the number of bottles of port they could

1 John or Sir John Barleycorn – a personification of malt liquor. (Whisky is made from malted grain, especially barley.) The term was made popular by Burns. 2 tippenny – twopence 3 usquebae (usquebaugh) – whisky. From the Irish and Scottish languages.

21 drink after dinner. His head throbbing, he wishes that the drunkard’s cloak was still in use. This was a tub with holes for the arms to pass through; it was used two hundred years ago, not only for drunkards, but for nagging women. Gaelic uisge beatha, water of life. Similar to the Latin aqua vitae, and the French eau de vie. The word “whisky” is short for whiskybae, a variation of usquebaugh. (English by Radio and Television) THE LAMBEAUX PROCESSION

One of the most interesting of Scottish Hogmanay celebrations is the Flambeaux Procession at Comrie, Perthshire. Such processions can be traced back to the time of the ancient Druids*. There is a procession of townsfolk in fancy dress carrying large torches. They are led by pipers*. When the procession has completed its tour, the flambeaux (torches) are thrown into a pile, and everyone dances around the blaze until the torches have burnt out. (Customs and Festivals of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Purnell and Sons Ltd.) TAR-BARREL BURNING

The custom of men welcoming in the New Year by carrying pans of blazing tar on their heads is still kept up at Allendale, Northumberland, on New Year’s Eve. Each of the “carriers”, in fancy costume, balances on his head the end of a barrel (or “kit”) filled with inflammable material. The procession is timed to reach the unlit bonfire shortly before midnight, then each man in turn tosses his flaming “headgear” on to the bonfire, setting it ablaze. On the stroke of twelve, all join hands and dance around the fire, singing Auld Lang Syne*. (Customs and Festivals of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Purnell and Sons Ltd.) AULD LANG SYNE

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to min’? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne? Chorus: For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We’ll tak a cup o’kindness yet For auld lang syne. (The first verse and the chorus)

22 È. À. Óîëø, Ò. Í. Õèìóíèíà, Í. Â. Êîíîí

GREAT BRITAIN: CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS ÂÅËÈÊÎÁÐÈÒÀÍÈß: ÎÁÛ×ÀÈ È ÒÐÀÄÈÖÈÈ

Ðåäàêòîð Ñ. Â. Äåíèñîâà Õóäîæíèê Î. Â. Ãðàáëåâñêàÿ Õóäîæåñòâåííûé ðåäàêòîð À. À. Íåêëþäîâà Òåõíè÷åñêèé ðåäàêòîð À. Á. Òêà÷åíêî Êîððåêòîð Å. Â. Ðîìàíîâà Êîìïüþòåðíàÿ âåðñòêà Â. Þ. Þðüåâà