Bringing Scotland's New Year Spirit to Colorado: A Guide to Hogmanay and Beyond

Here's the thing about Scots and New Year's: we don't just celebrate it, we throw ourselves into it with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for winning the World Cup or finding a previously undiscovered whisky distillery. When that clock strikes midnight on December 31st, Hogmanay isn't just another party. It's a full-blown cultural event that somehow manages to be both ancient tradition and the best night of the year, all rolled into one.

And honestly? Those of us keeping Scottish heritage alive here in Colorado are in a great position to embrace all of it. The question isn't whether we should honor these traditions; it's how we make them work in our lives here in the Rockies. With the St. Andrew Society of Colorado's Burns Supper coming up on January 24th, we've got the perfect excuse to dive headfirst into Scottish winter traditions and carry that momentum through the new year.

So What's the Big Deal About Hogmanay?

Look, Hogmanay goes way back: we're talking centuries of Scottish history here, probably with some Viking winter solstice celebrations mixed in, plus a healthy dose of Celtic traditions for good measure. The word itself might come from the Old French "hoginane," meaning a gift given at the new year. Or it might not. Honestly, nobody's quite sure, which is very on-brand for Scotland.

But here's what makes Hogmanay really special: it's not about one night of partying and calling it good. Traditionally, Scots celebrated from December 31st straight through to January 2nd. Why? Because everyone needed time to visit friends and family, and nobody wanted to rush through the good bits. Sure, Edinburgh's modern street party draws hundreds of thousands of people these days, but at its heart, Hogmanay has always been about those smaller gatherings with the people who matter most.

Take first-footing, for example. The idea is that the first person to cross your threshold after midnight, ideally a tall, dark-haired man (dare I say, Outlander-worthy) should bring symbolic gifts: coal for warmth, shortbread for food, salt for flavor, whisky for good cheer, and sometimes a coin for prosperity. It's classic Scottish thinking: how you start the year matters, so you might as well start it by welcoming others and sharing what you have.

Before anyone can do any first-footing, though, there's the "redding of the house," which is basically a thorough cleaning that sweeps away the old year's troubles. It's wonderfully practical when you think about it. You can't move forward while you're still carrying around yesterday's dust.

Bringing Hogmanay to the Rockies

Good news: living in Colorado doesn't mean we have to give up on these traditions. In fact, between our dramatic winter scenery and our already strong community spirit, we're in a great spot to do Scottish-style New Year right.

Here's a thought: host your own Hogmanay gathering that keeps the important parts while working with what we've got here. Start with the redding, and yes, that means actual cleaning, but also take some time to think about the past year. What worked? What didn't? What do you want to carry forward? In our crazy-busy lives, this intentional pause is valuable to reset ourselves for the new year.

When midnight rolls around, gather whoever you can: friends, family, maybe some neighbors who've been wondering about all that bagpipe music coming from your house. Sing Auld Lang Syne. Not the two-line version everyone mumbles through at weddings, but the whole thing. Hold hands, cross your arms for that final verse, and know that Scots all over the world are doing exactly the same thing at that exact moment. 

Now, about first-footing in Colorado: bundle up (obviously, it's December in the Rockies), and go visit your neighbors. Don't have a tall, dark-haired friend available? Go anyway. The gesture matters way more than ticking every box on the traditional description. Bring some shortbread, homemade wins extra points, a small bottle of good whisky, and maybe swap out imported salt for some Colorado honey. The gifts should say "abundance and warmth," however that looks for you.

Since progressive meals are all the rage now, let’s get creative with first-footing by planning progressive parties. Start at one house, move to another at midnight for the actual first-footing tradition, maybe end up at a third place for breakfast as the sun comes up over the mountains. Steak pie optional, though family recipes are definitely encouraged.

From Hogmanay to Burns Night: Keeping the Good Times Rolling

One of my favorite things about Scottish tradition is how it doesn't leave you hanging after one big celebration. Hogmanay isn't supposed to be this isolated burst of enthusiasm that fizzles out by January 2nd. It's actually the kickoff to a whole season of getting together and sharing stories, which is exactly where Burns Night fits in.

Think about it: Robert Burns wrote "Auld Lang Syne," the song that basically defines New Year's celebrations around the entire world. The man had a gift for capturing what matters: friendship, treating people as equals, and finding joy in the simple stuff. That's the same spirit that makes Hogmanay special. So when we gather for the Burns Supper on January 24th, we're not switching gears entirely. We're actually going deeper into the connections we renewed at New Year.

It's like Hogmanay plants the seeds, and Burns Night helps them grow. It’s charming when you look at it that way.

Make It Yours

Here's the best part about tradition: it's meant to be lived, not preserved behind glass like some museum exhibit. Scottish culture has always been adaptable; we've carried the heart of it across oceans while embracing wherever we've landed. Your Hogmanay in Fort Collins or Denver or wherever you call home doesn't need to be a pixel-perfect recreation of an Edinburgh street party.

What really matters is getting the spirit right: welcome people warmly, mark your transitions thoughtfully, choose abundance over scarcity, and build community through celebration. Sing the old songs even if your Gaelic is rusty (whose isn't?). Make the traditional foods, but throw in some local ingredients when it makes sense. Tell the old stories, absolutely, but add your own about what it's like celebrating Scottish culture here in the Rockies.

This January, pick just one Hogmanay tradition and make it yours. Clean your house on December 31st with intention, not just because it needs to be done. Visit a neighbor after midnight with a small gift. Learn all the verses of Auld Lang Syne, yes, all of them, and actually sing them like you mean it. Then carry that energy forward to Burns Night, to Tartan Day in April, to the Highland Games in summer, and back around to next year's Hogmanay.

You don't have to do everything. You just have to do something.

Looking Forward

As we head into 2026, the St. Andrew Society of Colorado continues to do what we've been doing since 1963: bringing Scottish culture to life in this beautiful mile-high place we call home. Our traditions, from Hogmanay's joyful welcome of the new year to Burns Night's celebration of poetry and community, aren't meant to sit on a shelf gathering dust. They're living, breathing practices that connect us to each other and to Scots around the world.

So when December 31st rolls around and the sun sets behind those Rockies, consider celebrating not just as Americans, but as Scots (or honorary Scots…we're a welcoming bunch). Clean your house, welcome your neighbors, sing those old songs, and remember: the best traditions aren't the ones we preserve perfectly behind velvet ropes. They're the ones we live fully, adapt creatively, and pass on with joy.

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr! Happy New Year, Colorado Scots. May your first foot bring luck, your whisky be smooth, and our Burns Supper on January 24th be one for the books.

See you there!