Hogmanay Fireworks!

As 2013 draws to a close, I’m reminded of how we started this year. Gareth and I were in Scotland at the time and, like everyone else in the region, we had made our way to the Cairngorms Hotel in Aviemore for what is locally known as Hogmanay. Our breath steamed in the frigid air, but the street was abuzz with conversation and laughter. A few minutes before midnight, the mayor stepped out onto a balcony. I couldn’t hear his speech, but it didn’t matter. He made way for a piper, and as the countdown started, we said goodbye to 2012 and welcomed in 2013 with the sounds of the Scottish bagpipe in the background and fireworks lighting up the night sky.

If you like fireworks half as much as I do, have a look at the video below:


After about 10 minutes of spectacular pyrotechnics, everyone started heading home. The atmosphere in the street was amazing and here and there groups of people were linked hand-in-hand, singing Auld Lang Syne, a song written in 1788 by Scottish poet Robert Burns.


 

And in what almost feels like the blink of an eye 2013 has zoomed past and 2014 looms ahead. Who knows what the new year may have in store, but let’s hope it is just as spectacular as Hogmanay fireworks!

For more posts in the Winter Escape 2012 series, click here.

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