Have You Seen That Man Yet?

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Today’s the day you see the man with as many heads as the days of the year. That’s what my Grandma used to say every December 31. It was a riddle she brought with her from Glasgow when she emigrated to Canada, and one that I’m happy to pass along to new generations.

Nobody celebrates New Years Eve like the Scots and, in Canada, nobody throws a New Year’s Eve party like the Scottish Society of Ottawa — tonight they are offering their 11th annual “Hogman-eh!” at Ottawa’s Lansdowne Park. For details of this year’s extravaganza, check out the Event page on SSO’s website.

As in past years, revellers have an opportunity to celebrate the coming in of the New Year not once, but twice. The first is at midnight in Scotland, which corresponds with 7 pm in Ottawa. Many families appreciate this feature: it enables parents to take their kids out for a special night out with entertainment geared towards young audiences, and get them home to bed at a decent hour. And if they wish, mom and dad can tune into the rest of the party online and celebrate at midnight in Ottawa.

Or for those of you who can’t make it to Ottawa or who want to bring in the New Year in the privacy of your own space, the SSO is continuing an innovation it initiated in response to the Covid pandemic and the shutting down of community events. They brought in 2021 in style by producing their program online. It proved to be so successful, with viewers tuning in from around the world, that they’re keeping it as a Hogmanay option.

6:30 pm to 7:45 pm ET - https://youtu.be/MBWagPk3D1Y

  • Mariner’s Curse

  • Bringing in the Bells Great Balloon Drop

  • Ottawa Caledonian Pipes and Drums and Ottawa Highland Dance Association Massed Highland Fling

  • Reel Ottawa Dance Company with special guest, Marielle Lesperence, World Champion Highland Dancer

  • Mudmen - Celtic rockers

11:15 pm to 12:30 am ET - https://youtu.be/kqhDs_5ZfZU

  • Alan Frew Band (of Glass Tiger)

  • New Year’s countdown and Auld Lang Syne

  • Fireworks over the Great Lawn, Lansdowne Park

And for those interested in kilt skating, a Hogman-eh! celebration can include a spin around the Lansdown Park Skating Park — so bring your skates. And keep looking for That Man — I’m pretty sure you’ve seen him.

Happy New Year. And lang may your lum reek!