Are you excited for Christmas yet?

你為聖誕節感到興奮嗎？

We don't have Christmas back in Monstonia, so I did some asking around, and it seems that each country has its own unique Christmas traditions.

我們蒙斯托尼亞沒有聖誕節，所以我四處打聽了一下，似乎每個國家都有自己獨特的聖誕節傳統。

My friend Kirsty has family from Scotland, and she says that Christmas was banned there for almost four centuries.

我的朋友 Kirsty 有家人來自蘇格蘭，她說那裡的聖誕節被禁止了近四個世紀。

What?!

什麼？

For that reason, New Year's Eve, also known as Hogmanay, is a very important celebration in the Scottish calendar.

是以，除夕（又稱 "Hogmanay"）是蘇格蘭日曆中一個非常重要的慶祝活動。

On New Year's Eve, Scots do a thorough clean of the entire house, an activity known as redding, to encourage good luck.

除夕夜，蘇格蘭人會徹底打掃整個房子，這種活動被稱為 "redding"，以求好運。

Then, when the clock strikes midnight, it's time for first footing.

然後，當午夜鐘聲敲響時，就到了第一腳的時間。

First footing involves going to the house of a friend or family member with the aim of being the first person to set foot in their house that year.

第一次踏入是指去朋友或家人的家，目的是成為當年第一個踏入他們家的人。

It's customary to bring gifts such as whiskey, shortbread, fruitcake, or coal.

按照習俗，人們會帶來威士忌、酥餅、水果蛋糕或煤炭等禮物。

In more modern times, a new tradition has emerged called the loony duke, where hardy Scots dive into the cold water of the Firth of Forth on the 1st of January.

在現代，出現了一種新的傳統，叫做 "瘋子公爵"（loony duke），勇敢的蘇格蘭人會在 1 月 1 日跳入福斯灣的冷水中。

Phew, that was actually quite difficult to say.

唷，這還真不好說。

I hope you've enjoyed learning how they do things in Scotland.

希望你們喜歡瞭解蘇格蘭人的生活方式。

Happy Christmas from everyone here at Webcertain. www.webcertain.co.uk

www.webcertain.co.uk