Ready to ring in a Scottish new year
Ring in 2018 with Hogmanay, a traditional Scottish time of merrymaking, at Hutchison House.
Visitors are invited to celebrate at the living museum, located at 270 Brock St., from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, New Year’s Day.
Part of the traditional preparations for the coming year involved putting one’s house in order. Debts were paid, the house was swept clean, clocks were wound, musical instruments were tuned, silver, brass and pewter were polished, clothes were mended, clean sheets were put on the beds, and anything borrowed was returned to its owner, to ensure that all was in ready when the New Year arrived. Stray dogs were sent away, as they were thought to bring bad luck. Finally, the fire was piled high. It was believed that the higher the flames, the greater the luck to come.
Visitors will be treated to traditional Scottish fare including Scotch Black Bun, a rich mixture of currants, raisins, peel, spices and whisky, baked in a fine pastry dough; Clooty Dumpling or Duff; Scotch Eggs; Potted Salmon; cheeses; oatcakes; shortbread and Haggis. In the Highland tradition, the Hogmanay beverage, Atholl Brose, a heated mixture of honey and whisky topped with a dollop of whipped cream and toasted oats, will also be available.
The Hogmanay celebration also includes tours of the museum, fiddle music, highland dancing and bagpipes and drums.
The first-footer will be piped in at precisely 1 p.m. Admission to the Hogmanay celebration is $10 for adults, $5 for children and $20 for a family. Atholl Brose is sold separately. This is a drop-in event. Space at the museum is limited and in order to accommodate visitors to this popular event, participants are respectfully asked to keep their visit as short as possible to avoid overcrowing. For more information, please call the museum at 705-7439710, email info@hutchisonhouse.ca or visit www.hutchisonhouse.ca.
New Year’s Eve Dance
Peterborough English Country Dancers (PECD) present a Community New Year’s Eve Dance Party on Sunday, from 8 to 11 p.m. The evening will feature a variety of dances such as contra, square and English country; with callers Tom Calwell, Myra Hirschberg and Susan Bunting; and live music by Michael Ketemer and friends. This is an alcoholand fragrance-free event. Please bring a treat to share. Everyone is welcome including families and singles. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students and free for those under 12 years. This Dance Party takes place at Mark Street United Church, 90 Hunter St. East. For more information please call 705-745-1630 or visit www.pecd.org.
Last Beer at The Ear
Enjoy a rough-cut screening of the film Last Beer at the Pig ’s Ear, a documentary about the Pig ’s Ear Tavern, which closed this past April after 152 years of operation, created by local filmmakers Peter Blow, Malcolm Byard and Rob Viscardis. Screenings take place Friday at 6 and 9 p.m. at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, 140 Charlotte St. Tickets are $20 per person and are available at the door, or in advance at the Red Dog Tavern, 189 Hunter St. West.