On Thursday, parts of Scotland will still celebrate the auld New Year. That itself is a reminder of the flexibility of time. In my childhood on the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides more than 50 years ago, we had a different calendar, and the reality of those old pre-Gregorian days still lingers.
The now-familiar monthly divisions – January, February etc – were non-existent in Gaelic. Instead, the year was divided into seasonal quarters beginning with Ciad Mìos an Earraich (literally, "the first month of spring") around the beginning of our modern February. When the new-style months eventually came, they never quite shook off the old meaning either. Faoilleach, our current January, means "wolf-month".
As a child, the great night was always Oidhche Chullaig – New Year's Eve, or Hogmanay, when the children in the township, each carrying an empty sack, would visit every home in the village. To gain entry you stood outside reciting a wonderful old duan (rhyme) which began: "Tha mise nochd a' tighinn gur n-ionnsaigh, a dh'ùrachadh dhuibh na Callaig" ("Tonight I come visiting you, to renew for you the year").
One boy would carry a caisein-uchd, the breast-strip of a sheep dipped in wax and tallow. This was freshly lit in each individual house's fire and the "sheep-candle" was handed to every member of the household, who would cross themselves and circle the candle three times round their head. If the flame died over someone's head, he or she was sure not to survive the year.
How strange that the ancient ritual is all gone now, replaced by the instant ritual of television and alien bells.
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9 January 2012 11:12PM
Moran taing airson seo, Aoghnais - bha sin gle innteanach.
9 January 2012 11:13PM
Ach, feumaidh mi ag radh, cha chreid mi gum bidh moran coin-coille ann an Uibhist a Deas an-diugh!
9 January 2012 11:25PM
"How strange that the ancient ritual is all gone now..."
Actually it isn't all gone - this ritual still happens (and has continued unbroken for as long as anyone can remember) in Stoneybridge in South Uist, albeit now at the current Hogmanay date of 31st December. In fact I joined the boys (including my nephews) this year to record some footage for a talk I'll be doing at Bothan Dùn Èideann this Friday 13th January at the Canon's Gait at 8pm (232 Canongate, Royal Mile).
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001237425198&ref=ts
I used to go out myself in my youth, as did my father before me, from whom we learned the 'duain'.
I believe it still happens in Eriskay as well and I have heard it still happens in Berneray on the old new year date around the 12th January.
Coinneach Peutan/Kenny Beaton
9 January 2012 11:26PM
I say 'this year' - it is only still this year in the old calendar!
9 January 2012 11:53PM
Here is an example of a 'duan' on www.tobarandualchais.co.uk (Tobar an Dualchais)
10 January 2012 12:37AM
Just like Angus Peter, for many years as a teenager I thoroughly enjoyed going out with my brothers and cousins on Oidhche Chullaig in South Boisdale in South Uist.
The ritual has changed since then - there are also fewer youngsters around - but Oidhche Chullaig is still alive in various places in South Uist. The tradition has been passed down through the generations and I'd hope to see my son and his cousins out again for Oidhche Chullaig 2012 in South Boisdale.