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Old New Year

Auld New Year

Jan 13

Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day

Today's Musings, History & Folklore

"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?"

~ Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery, 1908

If January 1st sneaked up on you and you’re still clutching a tin of shortbread in one hand and a mulled wine in the other, your new year resolutions not quite kicked in yet, don’t worry—this is your chance for a do-over. Auld New Year, celebrated on January 12th or 13th, harks back to the days before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in Scotland in 1752. This traditional observance is rooted in the Julian calendar, which lags 11 days behind the Gregorian. It's never too late to start fresh! This smooth strathspey gives you a chance to restart the auld new year off right! ❤️ 📆

Old New Year

Auld New Year, celebrated on January 12 under the old Julian calendar, offers a fascinating glimpse into a time when the world was split by its timekeeping systems. The Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to correct the Julian's drift against the solar year, was gradually adopted across Europe, often sparking resistance, confusion, and even outright rebellion. In Scotland, the change came in 1752, along with England and its colonies, creating a seismic cultural shift. Eleven days were “lost” as September 2 became September 14, triggering widespread unease. Many believed their lives had been shortened, and riots broke out with cries of "Give us back our eleven days!"


In rural communities, the calendar change disrupted long-held traditions tied to the agricultural cycle, leaving farmers grappling with altered dates for sowing and harvesting. Festivals like Auld New Year persisted in the Highlands and islands, where communities clung to their old ways, preserving practices like first-footing and fire festivals that marked the turning of the year. This dual observance often created a tension between adherence to the new system and loyalty to ancestral customs, highlighting the complex interplay of governance, religion, and local identity. Auld New Year thus remains a poignant reminder of how deeply our lives are entwined with the rhythms of time—and how disruptive even a small adjustment to those rhythms can be.


For more on how this change rolled out over time, click the photo of the detail of the pope's tomb by Camillo Rusconi (completed 1723); Antonio Lilio is genuflecting before the pope, presenting his printed calendar.

Old New Year

Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!

Old New Year

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