“Being in Scotland, I ought to tell you of Scotch customs; and really they have a charming one on this occasion (i.e. New Year’s Day). Whether it is meant as a farewell ceremony to the old one, or an introduction to the New Year, I can’t tell; but on the 31st of December, almost everybody has a party, either to dine or sup. The company, almost entirely consisting of young people, wait together till twelve o’clock strikes, at which time every one begins to move, and they all fall to work. At what? why, kissing. Each male is successively locked in pure Platonic embrace with each female; and after this grand ceremony, which of course creates infinite fun, they separate and go home. This matter is not at all confined to these, but wherever man meets woman it is the particular privilege of this hour. The common people think it necessary to drink what they call _hot-pint_, which consists of strong beer, whisky, eggs, &c.; a most horrid composition; as bad, or worse than that infamous mixture called _fig-one_,[3] which the English people drink on Good Friday.” [3] Doubtless a misprint for _fig-sue_. See under Good Friday. The letter from which this is an extract is signed Henry Beckersteth, and dated Edinburgh, January 1st, 1802. Till very few years ago, in Scotland (says a correspondent of Chambers’ _Book of Days_, vol. i. p. 28), the custom of _first-footing_ was practised on New Year’s morning. On the approach of twelve o’clock of the last night of the old year, a _hot-pint_[4] was prepared--that is, a kettle or flagon full of warm, spiced, and sweetened ale, with an infusion of spirits. When the clock had struck the knell of the departed year, each member of the family drank of this mixture, “and good health, and a happy New Year, and many of them, to all the rest,” with a general hand-shaking, and perhaps a dance round the table, with the addition of a song to the tune of Hey tuttie taitie: “Weel may we a’ be, Ill may we never see. Here’s to the king And the gude companie!” &c. [4] Called also a _het-pint_. _Time’s Telescope_, 1824, p. 3.