Hogmanay guising

“As we approach the end of another year and Hogmanay is near at hand, I am reminded that my grandfather, Andrew Moonie, delighted in telling me how he went guising at both Halloween and Hogmanay in Aberdeen,” emails Peter D. Wright of Buckhaven.

“This was at the turn of the 20th Century and I wonder if Hogmanay guising was common in Courier Country at that time?

“He would proudly recite the verse he and his friends used at Hogmanay whilst going from door to door for New Year gifts:

“Hogmanay remains an important date in the Scottish calendar, although we are unlikely to see the return of Hogmanay guising. Indeed even Santa now comes a week earlier to Scottish bairns than in grandfather and mother’s day.

“Historically we reach ‘The Daft Days’ on Christmas Eve, the Twelve Days of Yule, which end on January 6 (Uphaliday) and I would extend wishes for a Happy New Year to all Craigie and Courier readers.” performing pernickety tasks, such as fastening or unfastening my wife’s necklaces.

“I can hardly see some of the clasps I am asked to unlock and my always clumsy big fingers are even clumsier now I’m in my eighties. Trying to cope with a spring-loaded clasp built on the tiniest scale is almost impossible.

“There should be a special service for ladies where they can betake themselves and their necklaces for fastening and unfastening!”

“This spooky scene appeared from the fog when I was out cycling near Meikleour the other day,” says Eric Niven of Dundee. “The scarecrow looks a wee bit lonely!”

“Can your readers identify who is speaking and where this picture was taken?” asks Jim Howie. “The postcard came from the Montrose area and railway wagons can be seen beyond the gates. The meeting may relate to a political, suffragette or temperance gathering in the period 1905–1912.”