The very best place to celebrate New Years’ Eve is in Scotland as they do it with such passion.  Before they start partying there are several traditions and superstitions that should be taken care of before midnight on the 31st of December: these include cleaning the house and taking out the ashes from the fire, there is also the requirement to clear all your debts before “the bells” sound midnight, the underlying message is to clear out the remains of the old year, have a clean break and welcome in a young, New Year on a happy note.

The Scots were once a straitlaced conservative religious nation (!)  and right up until the 1950s  many of them worked over Christmas and celebrated their winter solstice holiday at New Year when family and friends would gather for a party and to exchange presents which came to be known as hogmanays.

They have certainly made up for it since and have shown the whole world how to really party the night away, but visitors are never sure what to expect beyond copious amounts of whisky.  Like the guests staying at The FIfe Arms Hotel in Braemar, Aberdeenshire who were treated to an impromptu performance by Dame Judi Dench and Scottish singer Sharleen Spiteri belting out a rendition of Abba’s Waterloo.   It brought the house down and  the  Dame really impressed the crowd although they may not have been aware that she was actually playing a pianola

 

 

PS To those of you who were unaware that the legendary actress could sing, let us remind you she starred in the original London stage production of Cabaret.  Dane Judi was also in the 1995 National Theatre production of Sondheim’s A Little Night Music where she played Sian Philips‘ daughter even though she was only one year younger (!) and she got to sing this …….