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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: bonjedward on Friday 31 December 04 10:52 GMT (UK)
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Did anyone get called 'Skittery Winter' today? As it may be becoming a rarity, I'd better explain: in Scotland, the last person in the house to get up on the last day of the year (Hogmanay), gets made fun of, and called 'skittery winter'.
In offices and other workplaces, the last person to arrive in the morning would also be ridiculed, with workmates banging on desks, radiators, etc. and shouting 'skittery winter' at them.
It might be an almost dead tradition now - in the 1980s when my mother was working in a travel agency, the younger staff had never heard of it. I suppose with the introduction of more flexible working hours in many companies, the whole idea of ridiculing the last to arrive loses its meaning.
Anyway, it's usually me who's the last to get up (today's a holiday), but this morning the kids (who normally get up at 7 to watch cartoons) didn't get up till 10, and share the honour and title for the next year!
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I've never heard of it David, but it's lovely. What a shame these old sayings ten to die out.
My excuse for getting up late is hubby was lying on me nightie ! :-[
Today I am having a George Bush day .. one of quietude
undisturbitudeness, unwrinkleditude, and relaxitude.
Su Zzzzzzzzz
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Hi David,
definitely me - the cat was up already !!
didn't know the "skittery winter" one but my in-laws (scots) do the "first footing" - the first person to (ring the bell, knock on the door and) enter the house in the new year !
Happy Hogmanay !
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Ah, yes, Bob, but do they bring something to eat, something to drink and something for heat? If we go first-footing we take some homemade shortbread, a dram or two and ideally a piece of coal, but that can be hard to come by in modern houses!
Slàinte!
Nell
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They should definitely bring some drink, and insist their hosts drink it, while their hosts insists the guests drink the host's offerings . I could do without the lumps of coal, though!
But most importantly, they shouldn't come before midnight. My parents invited my father's cousin and his wife (both English, they stayed a few years in Scotland) round for Hogmanay. My parents were horrified when they appeared at 8 p.m. - they weren't supposed to come before midnight!
Firstfooting continues for a number of days into the New Year - the idea is to visit all your friends, neighbours and family. It used to be said that you stopped when your drink ran out, but since the price of alcohol, and especially spirits has fallen enormously compared to wages, it need never run out!
Happy New Year!!
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In the days when Firstfooting was far more of a tradition than it seems to be nowadays, I recall that the "Firstfooter" had to be a dark haired man. Why?
Jill
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I seem to remember hearing that it is supposed to go all the way back to Viking raids 1000 years ago, where fair haired strangers were pretty scary, while a dark haired stranger was probably a local.
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I'd heard that, too, about a dark haired first-footer. We used to argue whether I, hirsutely challenged, still counted as dark-haired, and decided, as I had previously been dark-haired, I was "technically" OK !
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Thankyou David & Bob. It never ceases to amaze me that there is always a bit of apparently sensible logic behind these traditions!
Jill
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Am i for ever Skittery Winter, as i was born on 31 december, nora T.
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My experience of "Skittery Winter!" was folk who appeared late at work after Ne'erday & got pelters!
Skoosh.
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First footing was common in northern England as well as Scotland. We lived in Lancashire and my father was a popular first footer in the neighbourhood, as he had dark hair. After midnight he would visit neighbours, bearing Christmas cake, whisky and a lump of coal (food, drink and warmth). By the time he got home he would be rosy-cheeked and a little tipsy, as he was offered a drink at each house.
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The first footing at my parents' house has always been to carry in, through the FRONT door, coal, bread and cash.
My mum, who has always been the upholder of traditions, was from the Bolton area. There may have been some influence by the tee-totallers in the switching of alcohol for cash, though in this case there is always a drink awaiting the first footer. ;D