At this time of the year, Hogmanay seems like a distant memory but at one point in history, March 25 was the date New Year's Eve was celebrated in Scotland.
New Year's Day wasn't always January 1, and may in fact be different depending what point in Scotland's history you look to. Some would mark it in October, others November and for some time it was in March, reports the Daily Record.
Traditionally, November 1 marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter with what is called Samhain (pronounced sow-in). Also referred to as Celtic New Year, this ancient event - that is still celebrated by many - begins every year on the evening of October 31, with food and bonfires usually being part of the festivities.
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With Samhain acting as the boundary between the light and dark halves of the year, those who observe the holiday believe it is the time when the division between this world and the otherworld is at its thinnest - allowing spirits to pass through and families to communicate with their ancestors.
Many others in Scotland celebrated New Year's on March 25 for hundreds of years. This is because March 25 marked the start of the new year according the Julian Calendar, which was used across the UK for centuries.
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Because of this, the date was celebrated by the majority as the traditional Scottish New Year for a long time. It was not until 1599, when Scotland adopted the Gregorian Calendar under the rule of King James VI, that January 1 became known as New Year's Day.
Interestingly, England adopted the new calendar a full 153 years after Scotland, in 1752. If someone asks you how you're celebrating New Year's this week, now you know why, and you might even see people out and about ringing in the new year this weekend.
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