Perplexed as to what to serve for New Year’s Eve? Look no further than Scotland’s Hogmanay – or New Year’s Eve – celebration, rich in history (read more HERE), with just the right touch of ancient practices. Raucous, animal-skin dressed revelers call to mind Viking invaders of the 9th and 10th centuries, Hogmanay a substitute for the Puritan-prohibited Christmas festivities tainted with Roman Catholicism.
So what might you offer the “first footing,” hopefully a tall, darkly handsome man bearing gifts of “shortbread, salt, black bun and a wee dram of whisky”? [See after the photo]
MENU POSSIBILITIES
Haggis (of course)
Rumbledethumps (Potatoes, Swede or Turnip, Cabbage)
Smoked Salmon
Whisky (of course)
And in tribute to my Scots ancestors – Campbells, MacMillans, MacCallums, MacTavishs, and Gibsons – this:
“Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o kindness yet, for auld lang syne.”
~ Robert Burns
© 2015 C. Bertelsen
CYNTHIA D. BERTELSEN 
I forgot about Cullen Skink – will add it. Thanks, Penny!
this looks like more than enough ballast to withstand the drink Cindy. Also love cullen skink with lots of white bread. Will started hogmanay early yesterday with torchlight procession through Edinburgh http://www.edinburghshogmanay.com/events/torchlight-procession/. Bliadhna Mhath Ùr !