My memories of Hogmanay or the Bells, as we called it growing up, are truly special. Hogmanay in Scotland is a serious business, so much so that it is the only part of the UK that sees it as a national holiday, and it was a national holiday in Scotland long before Christmas ever was. I have family stories of my grandparents going to work as normal on Christmas Day. It was only recognised as a public holiday in 1958, but Hogmanay has been celebrated for hundreds, if not thousands, of years going as far back as the Vikings.
Growing up it was probably the only time my family had a party and for some reason my dad took charge of the food, going out all day getting cakes and shortbread and lining up, with the wonderful Rikki Fulton.
