New Year street parties were nothing new in Thurso
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Thurso’s Heritage by a Thirsa Loon
With the New Year now a memory and normality making a welcome return, I thought I would look at past celebrations.
In 2005, the newly formed Hogmanay in Thurso committee began its annual street party. This was not a new event, as street parties were old hat in Thurso. Gatherings at the “Toon’s Clock” had taken place many years before and on a different day.
In Scotland, New Year’s Day was traditionally celebrated on January 12. Back in 1849, on old New Year’s, as it is now known, the day was celebrated at an early hour as the street echoed with the noisy music of “the band”. And “friendly, though rather unseasonable, visitations of the bottle disturbed the repose of many.”
As morning dawned, heavy rain fell before clearing in the afternoon when the traditional game of “knotty” was played on the beach with upwards of 100 young men taking part. Towards the west end of the beach, near the rocks, a crowd of people were “foolish enough” to amuse themselves in firing away their money for a prize at a target. The game only finished when darkness fell.
With no abstinence party in place, several dances were held in public houses in the evening, which was popular with many younger folks. Meanwhile, a party of teetotallers spent their evening in a “most pleasant manner” at the Masonic Hall. There were some scenes of disturbance occurring in various parts of the town, but nothing serious.
The Thurso magistrates had concern about something more worrying than any minor fracas. Sending out the town’s drummer, he read a notice to the public warning of a cholera spreading in some localities. Within the first few days of the New Year, the total of those infected had doubled, the John O’Groat Journal claiming this was a consequence of excessive drinking.
While the Thurso Rifle Volunteers managed shooting competitions at the rifle range, east of the castle, in 1876, the Thurso Athletic Club games were a failure because of the weather.
The Caithness Courier mentioned they were “happy to report there was scarcely a drunk person seen on the streets...” It continued: “There was, we understand, a good deal of quiet drinking.” All celebrations appeared to have stopped before the “enemy had stolen away the senses”.
In 1895, youths gathered in front of the church and cheered as the clock struck midnight, as was the customary manner for years. Then the Artillery Brass Band played, but only for a moment, as soon after, all was quiet.
Even then, the interest in the New Year was falling away. The tradition of “first-footing” had almost, if not altogether, fallen into desuetude. The old-time customs and practices were dying fast. Even the habit of visiting one’s neighbours and exchanging greetings was largely finished.
On New Year’s Day, the Volunteers’ shooting competitions were only attractions during the day, while the streets remained deserted. In the evening, the Independent Order of Good Templars held a party in the Town Hall with a lengthy programme of various artists doing a turn, many of which were members of the organisation.
Elsewhere, the Artillery and Rifle Halls held assemblies. Shortly after 11pm, all was quiet, and the streets again devoid of pedestrians, bringing to a close the first day of the year.
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