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 join our jolly party just after midnight. The butler brings in the currant bun, or black bun, which is traditionally eaten at Hogmanay in Scotland. A child rubs their eyes with the struggle of staying up way past their usual bedtime to join the festivities. The gentlemen take advantage of the celebratory mood to charm the ladies. The elderly couple, perhaps the hosts, at each end of the table act with a little more decorum.
Next, in a brief interlude to our story, appears a series of illustrations captioned 'Cardinal Puff'. This refers to an old drinking game, since made famous by a sketch in the 1970s sitcom Dad’s Army. It includes a series of actions to be taken following a toast to the health of ‘Cardinal Puff’ and, again to ‘Cardinal Puff, Puff’ and finally ‘Cardinal Puff, Puff, Puff’. If the unwitting participant bungles any of the actions they must start all over again! This may have advanced the state of intoxication of some of the party and led to some of the New Years day scenarios which follow…
The celebrations move into the street as some revellers try to return home. Others are drawn into a variety of situations leading to a rambunctious scene of chaos. All caution is thrown to the wind as the 'Het Pint' is forced down one unfortunate soul. A poor woman looks disappointed that her First Foot is a very drunken man instead of the beau she was expecting!
Let's hope the streets of Glasgow are a little less chaotic come the early hours of New Years Day next year!
Glossary
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.
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.
Cardinal Puff 'Clip from Dad’s Army: The Fallen Idol', Dad’s Army, The Fallen Idol, 18:40 14/09/2019, BBC2 England, 35 mins. 00:17:45-00:19:07. https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand/index.php/clip/246030?bcast=130222698 (Accessed 19 Dec 2023). Log in with Institution ID required.
Based on an article originally published in December 2012 in our Item of the Month feature.
We join our jolly party just after midnight. The butler brings in the currant bun, or black bun, which is traditionally eaten at Hogmanay in Scotland. A child rubs their eyes with the struggle of staying up way past their usual bedtime to join the festivities. The gentlemen take advantage of the celebratory mood to charm the ladies. The elderly couple, perhaps the hosts, at each end of the table act with a little more decorum.
Next, in a brief interlude to our story, appears a series of illustrations captioned 'Cardinal Puff'. This refers to an old drinking game, since made famous by a sketch in the 1970s sitcom Dad’s Army. It includes a series of actions to be taken following a toast to the health of ‘Cardinal Puff’ and, again to ‘Cardinal Puff, Puff’ and finally ‘Cardinal Puff, Puff, Puff’. If the unwitting participant bungles any of the actions they must start all over again! This may have advanced the state of intoxication of some of the party and led to some of the New Years day scenarios which follow…
The celebrations move into the street as some revellers try to return home. Others are drawn into a variety of situations leading to a rambunctious scene of chaos. All caution is thrown to the wind as the 'Het Pint' is forced down one unfortunate soul. A poor woman looks disappointed that her First Foot is a very drunken man instead of the beau she was expecting!
Let's hope the streets of Glasgow are a little less chaotic come the early hours of New Years Day next year!
Glossary
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.
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.
Further information:
Northern Looking Glass
Call Number: Mechanics/Anderson Collection
Publication Date: 1825-1826
Cardinal Puff 'Clip from Dad’s Army: The Fallen Idol', Dad’s Army, The Fallen Idol, 18:40 14/09/2019, BBC2 England, 35 mins. 00:17:45-00:19:07. https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand/index.php/clip/246030?bcast=130222698 (Accessed 19 Dec 2023). Log in with Institution ID required.
Based on an article originally published in December 2012 in our Item of the Month feature.