This was originally published in December 2012 as part of our Item of the Month series.
While the rest of the UK prepares for Christmas, Scotland is gearing up for its biggest celebration of the year: Hogmanay! So big, in fact, that the 2nd of January is a Scottish public holiday to aid the post-party recovery! This month, we present a snapshot of Hogmanay in Glasgow in 1825, captured by the evocative illustrations and descriptions in a contemporary satirical broadsheet, the 'Northern Looking Glass'. Written and illustrated by William Heath (c.1795-1840), the paper was originally called the ‘Glasgow Looking Glass’, but its title was later changed to reflect its coverage of events throughout Scotland. The publication ran from 1825 to 1826, and only nineteen issues were produced.
We have left our ingenious Artist, on this occasion, to exercise his own fancy in the exhibition of the various scenes incident to this festive period, and our task is only to particularise some of the practices now exhibited, more for the information of our English, than our Scottish Readers.
12 o'clock
The Butler has just made his entré, bearing on a silver waiter, the huge Currant Bun, and is obliged to be assisted in his task, having evidently been drinking deep to the "coming year;" nor does the Footman, who brings up the rear with the "Het Pint", appear to have been less sparing in his potations.
Indeed we are not sure that our Artist has not maliciously exhibited symptoms of the mirth-inspiring God, in the countenances of some of the company; we mean of course - the Gentlemen.
The old Lady at the head of the table soberly enjoys the mirth of the evening in a manner befitting her years, whilst the children, allowed on such occasions to sit up far beyond their usual time of rest, struggle hard against the addresses of the drowsy God, and have been with difficulty kept awake till the appearance of the promised New Year.
You can follow the progress of this jolly party in our flickr gallery.
Carol Stewart, Senior Library Assistant
Glossary
Het Pint: A mixture of ale or beer, spirits, sugar and spices, generally drunk during the Scottish festive season. The ‘het’ or ‘hot’ pint was used as a warming drink by ‘first-footers’ in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, who carried it in a copper kettle and offered some to everyone they met on their first-footing rounds.
Currant Bun: Also known as black bun, this is a rich fruit cake encased in pastry, still traditionally eaten at Hogmanay in Scotland. It is often carried as a gift by the ‘First Foot’.
First Foot: “The person who first presents himself to another after the clock has struck 12, is denominated his or her First Foot.”