J. F. Campbell Collection > Popular rhymes of Scotland

POPULAR RHYMES OF SCOTLAND.
RHYMES CONNECTED WITH NEW- YEAR
OBSERVANCES.
The last day of the old year, and the first of the new, are
generally observed throug-hout Scotland with much festivity.
Till a recent period, this festivity approached to license,
and, from the frantic merriment which reigned in most
minds, the time was called the Daft (that is, Mad) Days.
Now, these follies are much corrected. The only other day
about this period which was held in any respect was Handsel
Monday— ihdii is, the first Monday of the year — on which
day people made presents (handsels) to their friends, par-
ticularly to those of tender age. Handsel Monday was also
a favourite day for family meetings ; and in some rural dis-
tricts it is still such ; but in these cases the day according
to old style is usually preferred.
Christmas and Twelfth Night, days so much observed in
England, attract no regard in Scotland : the latter may be
said to be not only unrecognised, but unknown. This is no
doubt owing to the persevering efforts made by the Pres-
byterian clergy, for a century after the Reformation, to
extinguish all observance of Christmas. In the Highlands
alone, and amongst Episcopalian families in large towns, is
the festival of the Nativity held in any regard. In the
Lowlands, there exists amongst the people only a shadowy
traditionary idea of its character as a holiday and day of
feasting. The boys have a rhyme —
On Christmas night I turned the spit,
I burnt my fingers — I find it yet.
And in Fife there is another stanza alluding to its festive
character —
Yule's come, and Yule's gane,
And we ha'e feasted weel ;
Sae Jock maun to his flail again.
And Jenny to her wheel.
Scotland has also in its time partaken of the old religious
rites with which Christmas used to be celebrated at the pea-
sant's fireside. The boys are still well acquainted with the
rhyme alluded to in Ellis's edition of Brand's Popular An-