Jeremy Hobson - Curious Country Customs

Some 700 years before Julius Caesar came to power in 46bc, the Roman year comprised ten months and began on 25 March (Lady Day), a date that crops up regularly in country customs.

The arrival of Caesar saw the creation of the Julian calendar and by the time Britain began using it there were 12 months of 30 days and a 13th of five. If it were to have continued, we would by now be about eight years behind ourselves and probably celebrating New Years Day on 13 September as they do in Ethiopia, where the Julian calendar is still used.

In the late 1500s the Gregorian calendar, devised by Pope Gregory XIII, was introduced. This was implemented at different times throughout Britain, but for Wales and the majority of England it appears to have been in common usage by 1752. Scotlands changeover was earlier than this and in 1599 the Privy Council resolved that the following year should officially begin on 1 January.

The new calendar was not popular and it caused a public outcry throughout Britain with people demanding that they should be given back their lost days. This protest is still commemorated by the 200 inhabitants of Gwaun Valley near Fishguard, Dyfed, Wales, who belatedly welcome in the New Year on 13 January in a ceremony known as Hen Galan.

In Scotland, the eve of the New Year has traditionally been of supreme importance and still takes precedence over Christmas. Nowadays it is a time of fun and light-hearted tradition, but underneath the rejoicing is an element of superstition and ritual.

Up until the beginning of the 20th century it was common practice for Scottish people to go around houses and shops carrying dried cow-hides and chanting rhymes, which it was hoped would keep at bay fairies, evil spirits and hostile forces of every kind. At each home the hide was singed in the fire and members of the household were required to smell it as a charm against all things evil and harmful.

Better known is the custom of First Footing, when, at midnight, armed with a bottle of whisky and gifts, people visit their neighbours in the hope of bringing them luck. In England it is still the custom for a dark-haired man to let in the New Year: the man leaves the house by the back door just before midnight on New Years Eve and on the stroke of midnight knocks on the front door. The householder opens the door and traditionally receives from him the following gifts: salt for seasoning, silver for wealth, coal for warmth, a match for kindling and bread for sustenance.

In Wales, if the first visitor is a woman and a man opens the door bad luck will follow, as it will if a red-haired man is the first male to cross the threshold. Another New Year custom that used to be carried out throughout Wales was the giving of the Calennig a token piece of fruit, usually an apple or an orange. From dawn until noon on 1 January, groups of young boys would visit all the homesteads in their locality carrying with them branches of evergreen and water drawn from the nearest well: they would then use the twigs to splash people with the water and in return be given the Calennig the custom has all but died out and, were the local lads to try it today, they would no doubt receive a court order and an ASBO rather than any reward!

In Wales, if you pay off your debts on New Years Day it is considered good luck. On the other hand, to do the same elsewhere in Britain is deemed bad luck.

In the Isle of Man, New Years Day used to be known as Laa Nolick beg, or little Christmas Day, and the first person or creature you met after leaving home decided whether or not you would have good fortune through the coming year; to meet either a splay-footed person or a cat, for example, was considered unfortunate. Great care also had to be taken when sweeping up around the Manx house on New Years morning: the dust had to be swept so that it travelled from the door towards the hearth. If this wasnt done, the good fortune of the family would be swept from the home for that particular year.