The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
New Year across Courier Country
Various locations, December 31 and January 1, 2018
It’s the last night of the year – and one of the biggest in the social calendar. There are a host of events planned for Hogmanay in Courier Country, as well as Dooks to blow away the cobwebs on January 1.
Comrie’s Flambeaux committee has been busy preparing for this year’s fiery parade. Like many of Scotland’s famous fire festivals, the Comrie Flambeaux is likely to be pagan in origin, when fire was used to ward off the evil spirits of the old year.
On Hogmanay, participants carry lit torches – some nearly 10ft in height – and parade around the small Perthshire village. The procession is accompanied by music before the torches are thrown into the River Earn. This year’s festivities begin at 6.30pm with a children’s fancy dress parade. After the judging of the best costumes takes place there will be a fireworks display at the Boulevard.
Prior to midnight the judging of the adult floats takes place then, as the bells ring in the New Year, the Flambeaux parade commences with Comrie Pipe Band leading.
Meanwhile, there are more flames in Stonehaven for the town’s spectacular annual fireballs festival on the town’s High Street.
The free Hogmanay event – which has been celebrated for more than 100 years – always attracts a large crowd so it’s a good idea to arrive early and soak in the atmosphere before the spectacle begins. People start to gather in the High Street from 10.30pm onwards.
With no event in the town square this year, the fireballs are set to be busier than ever. Dozens of participants parade along the street swinging balls of fire before throwing them into the water at the harbour. The festival lasts for approximately 20 minutes and is followed by a fireworks display.
Once the festivities are over, it’s on to the business of dooking. The New Year’s Day Dook in Broughty Ferry, organised by Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association, is a tradition handed down by the fisher folk of the Ferry.
Over the years participation in the Dook has increased dramatically and it now attracts more than 300 dookers and 3,000 spectators.
The event creates valuable donations for many charities as most dookers raise sponsorship by taking part.
Proceedings kick off at 11am with arrival music by Bruce Whamond, there will be a carnival from noon, a naming of two new YeAABA boats.
The fancy dress parade commences at 1.30pm, then organisers will officially welcome participants before the event begins at 2pm.
There are numerous other dooks across Courier Country including: Carnoustie, North Queensferry, Kinghorn, St Andrews and Anstruther (which is at 1pm on December 31).