nancy

<BR>Has anyone spent New Years Eve in Glasgow or Edinburgh? I understand you need tickets to get into the centers of the cities that night but don't know where to get them or even what the festivities are like. Any other tips on spending the holidays in Scotland? <BR> <BR>nancy

Sheila

I've never actually done it, because I'm turning into my mother, but if you want to party with thousands of strangers, Edinburgh's the place to be. they now even have their own web site. <BR>http://www.edinburghshogmanay.org/ <BR> <BR>New Year's funny tho'. When I was a child (I'm 43), lots of our neighbours came round and there would be this sort of moveable street party. Nowadys everyone sort of thinks that's what it'll be like, but it never is, quite. There are bizarre and fun ceremonies all over the place, like the fireballs in Stonehaven and Burning the Clavie at Burghead. <BR> <BR>I don't think Glagow needs tickets but it's not organised inquite the same way. search "Hogmanay" on Lycos and use some of the links to see what you come up with. <BR> <BR>Please feel free to come back to me if you have additional questions. Wha are your plans so far? Perhaps we could help embellish them?

nancy

Hi Sheila- <BR>We would like to wind up in Glasgow on the 31st of Dec but don't have a clue where to stay - what parts of the city are best for one night? We head home the next day. Will probably spend time in Edingurgh earlier in the week, perhaps visit Skye. Are there special things to do around Christmas? <BR>nancy

wondering

Shelia, <BR>Can you tell me what "Hogmanay" means? Is it just the name of the celebration (festival?) in Edinburgh on new year's eve? Where does the word come from? <BR>Thanks for any insight you might provide.

Diane

Nancy, we attended the Edinburgh street party last New Year's Eve. You have to have tickets to get in - we got them from family that live in Edinburgh. My recollection is when the tickets were bought she had to buy a group of about ten of them. They were hard to get also. The party is a street party - drinking and mingling. There was a concert in Princes Street Gardens which you needed special tickets to get into. <BR> <BR>The fireworks shot off from the entire front edge of the castle were spectacular - the best, most intense firework display I had ever seen. <BR> <BR>The crowds leaving were the most intense I had ever seen also. Blocks of solid people. I didn't enjoy that part, in fact I found it a bit scary - my 16 year old son thought it was fantastic. Age really makes a differnce. <BR> <BR>If I were to do it again, I'd find a place to observe the fireworks from but avoid the street party. Too old at 42. <BR> <BR>I have not heard what is being planned for this year although it is always a large party. <BR> <BR>Regarding holidays in Scotland, I found Christmas to be much more sedate than it is here. Not much in decorations so don't expect that. Stores were open on the 24th and the 26th (boxing day).

Sheila

I don't thank anyone actually knows the origin of the word, wondering.It is said variously to come from the Anglo-Saxon Haleg Monath (Holy Month), or the Gaelic oge maidne (New Morning). <BR> <BR>So take your pick and make a choice. <BR> <BR>As to Glasgow on the 31st, I would suggest one of two choices, but someone else may know better- try frank @hotmail- <BR> <BR>1. would be to book into a fancy place with a hogmanay dance on, so you're in a settled crowd out to have a good time. <BR> <BR>2. would be to spend time in George Square, Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street. I seem to recall that Gasgow Cross is the place to be at midnight. I'll se if I can find more. It wouldn't really matter where you stayed; except you must remember that taxis will be like gold dust after midnight. They do however run buses all night to compensate. <BR> <BR>I'll e-mail you my Glasgow document. If that's not actually your e-mail address, you might let me have it privately if you want me to send it. I'll see what i can find out about "What's on" over the festive period. <BR> <BR>Budget for Glasgow Hotel? <BR> <BR>When do you arrive?