by Anura Guruge
on December 31, 2023
Hogmanay, the Very Scottish celebration of New Year’s Eve, is like no other.
All other New Year’s Eve celebrations pale in comparison.
I was lucky enough to have enjoyed Hogmanay in Scotland, a few times, & moreover to be a ‘First Footer‘. WOW. SMILE. All the women & girls queue up to kiss the First Footer because he is supposed to bring you LUCK. Please remember I am still available to perform this duty.
by Anura Guruge
on December 27, 2023
To do it properly YOU have to have linked, crossed arms — as shown at top. That video, as you can see, is from Edinburgh ‘Hogmanay‘ — where, obviously, they know how to do it properly.
You really should try and do it right.
So much more satisfying.
The crossed, linked hands are symbolic —
across your heart and the connection with others.
Cracks me up to see Americans struggling with this every New Year’s Eve. So practice beforehand.
I used to be a ‘First Footer’ in Scotland. So, I know this stuff. SMILE.
by Anura Guruge
on September 12, 2022
Click to ENLARGE and read here.
Click here for the U.K. ‘Daily Mail’ article.
I, alas, am NOT that au fait with the details BUT we do (& I know that for a fact) still have a ‘Freedom of Expression RIGHT‘.
And, alas, we also have the catch-all ‘disturbing the peace’ — & in this case applied in connection with the ‘sacred’ ‘Royal Mile’.
But, I am sure it is NOT right. There will be an outcry (I hope) & there will be outrage.
We are a fiercely democratic nation; fiercely democratic people.
You should be able to expression your opinion. He didn’t say anything vulgar. Just an opinion.
I am distraught.
This is MY BRITAIN. Man, during my College days, IF this was the bar, I would still be in prison! I led a famous march through Swansea, with a poster of a topless Margaret Thatcher, sporting three boobs, with a caption ‘Margaret makes another boob‘. I was accompanied on the march by a police inspector. I thought he was a traffic warden. I called him as such. He never corrected me. He only said he would arrest me ‘if you or any of those behind you cause trouble‘. He didn’t define trouble. We were not arrested.
Come ON. This is Britain. Not Russia or Sri Lanka!