Rituals and Traditional Events in the Modern World

Abstract

Hogmanay, which is the name given to New Year's Eve in Scotland, is a long-standing festival with roots going far back into pagan times. However, such festivals are losing their traditions and are becoming almost generic public celebrations devoid of the original rites and rituals that originally made them unique. Using the framework of Falassi's (1987) festival rites and rituals, this chapter utilises a duoethnographic approach to examine Hogmanay traditions in contemporary Scotland and the extent to which these have been transferred to another country. The chapter reflects on the traditions which have survived and those that have been consigned to history.