Happy Hogmanay!

Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the old year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year in the Scottish manner. 

They normally follow the night by further celebrating the morning of New Year's Day (1 January) or in some cases, 2 January—a Scottish bank holiday. 

The origins of Hogmanay are unclear, but it may be derived from Norse and Gaelic observances of the winter solstice. Whatever...I am thrilled that the days are getting longer!

Many are happy to see 2021 end. With the Covid-19 pandemic continuing to spread its viciousness across the world, the holiday celebration is restrained. New York City, for instance, has a population on the island of Manhattan of nearly 2 million. However, only fifteen thousand guests are allowed to stand in Times Square to view the ball drop, which heralds in 2022.

Watching the ball drop from the comfort of home is our tradition. Comfort food, a roaring fire, a purring cat, old movies, family (all vaccinated), reading one of my BOOKS, and sleeping late the next day is comforting as well as healthy. (COMFORT being the important aspect of the holiday)

However you choose to celebrate the New Year, keep safe!

Nancy Lee Badger

After the Gifts are Unwrapped...

The biggest holiday of the year is just a memory, but with the New Year revelry just around the corner, now is the time to look back and enjoy 2019. Bright lights, fireworks, and crowds are the norm, but I look forward to a quiet night watching the North Carolina Acorn drop. I write books with Scottish characters, so I will celebrate Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) my way.

I want to share my good fortune. Another royalty check just came through the door with last minute Christmas greetings, my health is better, and we have enough leftover food in the frig to survive any apocalypse. So, my recent ebook, Rescuing Christmas, is on sale until January 5th for only $.99 (US)

I am also giving away a prize CLICK HERE to one lucky winner. Quail Ridge Books is my local independent bookstore. They carry thousands of titles including my own Heaven-sent Warrior and Heaven-sent Highlander! They also ship just about anywhere.

This week is bittersweet. December 27th was my cousin Lee's birthday. She's been gone 13 months, but the pain is fresh. My dad left us on February 2nd, and Uncle Paul passed, too. 

My Dad, Robert F. Beegle

We can remember the good times with them, but the rest of us must soldier on, right? We can wave to a neighbor, drive a little slower, feed the birds, spend extra time on the treadmill, donate to the food bank, watch our pennies so we can get those home improvements done, and so much more. Enjoy the time you have.

May I suggest reading a book?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I am looking forward to 2013.

Why?

Simple...I was born on Friday the 13th; My Jeep's license plate ends with the number '13'; the last digits on my lottery Tickets are always '13'.

Do you look forward to the year ahead. (I figure we are ALL ahead since we survived past Dec. 21, 2012)

Enjoy the day and have a very HAPPY HOGMANAY (the Celtic New Year's) 

 

***If you want to learn more

about the Celtic Hogmanay

check out my article on the

Celitc Rose Blog.