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Julianne MacLean | Highland Holiday Traditions: Ringing in the New Year with the Fireballs of Stonehaven
December 30, 2015
The New Year is fast upon us. Have you made any plans to ring in 2016? Maybe you have excited youngsters who can’t wait to wave glow sticks in your
city or town at a family-friendly celebration. Perhaps you have family visiting
for the holidays, when the last days of December become moments to savor before
returning them to the airport. Maybe your tradition involves a more casual get-together with old friends at
home. Or perhaps this year is a real treat and you’ve booked a romantic dinner
for two, planning to linger over a leisurely gourmet meal. Over the years, I’ve had a chance to spend December 31st in many of these ways.
Yet I’ve never had the pleasure of greeting the New Year in Stonehaven, a
Scottish town south of Aberdeen along the northeast coast. Something about
witnessing Stonehaven’s fireballs ceremony whispers to the place inside of me
where my Highlander series’ characters reside. In the early 1700s when my Highlander Series
takes place, Highland society was a curious mix of belief systems. Though
Christianity was firmly in place in the Lowlands, some Highland parishes were
still trying to bring their Gaelic-speaking people to the church by translating
bibles into their native tongue. Scottish winter solstice ceremonies once walked in step with Christmas feast-day
observances until the Reformation in the mid-1600s. Although Christmas was
officially downplayed in Scotland until well into the 20th century in
favor of New Year’s or Hogmanay, somehow the ancient fire ceremonies persisted. The urge to light up the darkness of winter as one year waned and a new one
dawned once found townsfolk throughout Scotland gathering around bonfires or
taking part in torchlight processions. Long believed to be an agent of
cleansing, fire was welcomed in order to chase away evil spirits or bad luck
from their towns and livelihoods. In Stonehaven, for example, the fireballs are swung in impressive circles by
hardy souls as they walk along the High Street towards the harbor. Constructed
of wire cages filled with combustible material, mounted on a wire handle a few
feet long, all fireballs are hurled into the sea following the procession. A
fishing community’s traditional plea for blessings from the Atlantic Ocean is
now handed down to us as a link to Scotland’s ancient past. Many of the world’s New Year’s traditions involve fireworks, sparklers or other
forms of light. All of them point the way through short winter days, bringing
the promise of coming spring. The primal element of fire present in the Stonehaven fireball procession excites
me in a way that’s hard to define. I suppose it’s the same attraction that I
have to all of my Highlander heroes. Glow sticks may shine safely in the darkness of December, while fireworks dazzle
from high above. The swinging fireballs of Stonehaven can only be wielded by a
sure, strong hand. Like my latest heroine Mairi Campbell, I am drawn to witness
such elemental power tamed by the touch of a Highlander. Giveaway
How do you ring in the New Year? Let me know in the comments for a
chance to win an autographed copy of TAKEN BY THE
HIGHLANDER.
Julianne MacLean
came to the romance genre after completing a degree in English literature. She
fell in love with some of the classic romances - Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights,
Pride and Prejudice - and after a brief stint as a federal government auditor,
decided to try her hand at becoming a modern day romance writer. A three time Rita Finalist and USA Today Bestselling author, Julianne is also a
wife and mother who loves to travel. She’s lived in New Zealand and Ottawa, and
is now settled happily in Nova Scotia. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
A WARRIOR WITH A SECRET
Logan MacDonald, fierce warrior and bold scout for Angus the Lion, hides a
shameful secret. When he arrives injured at a crofter’s cottage in Campbell
territory during a secret mission for his laird, he is immediately suspected of
treachery…. A WOMAN WITH A VISION When Mairi Campbell stumbles across the mysterious wounded Highlander in a
moonlit glen—a member of an enemy clan—she is strangely beguiled and cannot
resist the desire to unearth the secrets of his darkened soul. Soon, Mairi
surrenders to forbidden passion in his bed, which thrusts her into the middle of
a war—in a battle for Scottish freedom, and in a battle against the true desires
of her heart….
Buy TAKEN BY THE HIGHLANDER: Kindle |
BN.com | iTunes/iBooks | Kobo | Google Play 
Photo credit – Mr. Purple/Wikipedia Creative Commons
Comments
40 comments posted.
Re: Julianne MacLean | Highland Holiday Traditions: Ringing in the New Year with the Fireballs of Stonehaven
I had to look up the Stonehaven Fireball event. It seems like a wonderful way
to ring in the new year. We generally don't do much of anything. My husband
gets up early for work and doesn't stay up late. I usually watch the ball drop
in Times Square on TV, then go to bed. This year, we are both working on a
fund raiser New Year's Eve party for our local Honor Flight group. I still may
ring it in without my husband. He said we are going in separate vehicles and
he will likely leave early. He gets up at 4 to 4:30AM for work and going to
bed early is a hard habit to break. Soon he will be retiring and hopefully his
sleep schedule will change.
(Patricia Barraclough 2:08am December 30, 2015)
This year I work both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day at 7 am. As we've aged we tend to stay at home and quietly usher in the new year without fanfare.
(Laurie Gommermann 5:49am December 30, 2015)
With friends & neighbors & bottles of bubblie!
(Nancy Ludvik 8:23am December 30, 2015)
When I was younger, my Husband liked to surprise me by taking
me to different events where we could be at a nice
dinner/dancing event, then stay the night wherever we were
at. The places were always nice, and they were always
someplace I've always wanted to go to. Now that we're older,
we either spend them alone, or with close friends, and just
enjoy each others' company. The party days are behind us.
Home is much safer anyway. I hope you have a healthy and
happy New Year!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:26am December 30, 2015)
Quiet night at home.
(Marissa Yip-Young 10:07am December 30, 2015)
I will be at home celebrating quietly.
(Edward Washington 10:13am December 30, 2015)
At home with my family.
(Sharon Berger 11:33am December 30, 2015)
Sometimes I stay up and watch on TV while enjoying a book...
(Colleen Conklin 11:57am December 30, 2015)
I usually don't make till midnight because I get up for work a 3:30 to start at 5am so it will be an early night for me.
(Gwenn Ostman 6:09pm December 30, 2015)
I love to go to NYC!
(Lily Shah 7:19pm December 30, 2015)
I will be at home.
(Leona Olson 9:24pm December 30, 2015)
i'm be at home and ordering in food and watching movies all
night.
(Emily Stemp 9:58pm December 30, 2015)
Staying home with the family
(Amanda Tonar 10:04pm December 30, 2015)
We ring in the new year early with a glass or so of
champagne and great nibbles in front of the fire. My hubby
always says it is midnight somewhere.
(G. Bisbjerg 11:48pm December 30, 2015)
My husband and I usually ring in the New Year's quietly with
a nice dinner, a glass of wine and just the two of us. When
the kids were small, we would make it a family event and do
the First Night activities in town.
(Marcia Berbeza 2:15am December 31, 2015)
When I was younger and most of my extended family lived close to us, we'd have a nice party at my aunt's house, aka party central. But now that we've grown and spread out, I usually spend a quiet night at home with my parents. Sometimes we'll sit out on the back porch and light sparklers.
(Cynthia Powers 5:05am December 31, 2015)
Unfortunately, we will start the new year on a sad note, my mother-in-law, a sweet lady, passed away, during Christmas time, and the funeral will be held on January 2nd. On a positive note, she is not suffering Anymore.
(Nicole Laverdure 12:04pm December 31, 2015)
We haven't yet but plan to stay home as it is too hard for
me to get around with so many people out tonight!
(Peggy Clayton 12:52pm December 31, 2015)
We are pretty boring in the Hendershott household...and this year I
have a miserable cold so I'm staying in...Thanks for the hours of
delightful Highlander stories
(Lenna Hendershott 2:22pm December 31, 2015)
We don't do much. My Husband works so we wait till he gets home. I make it fun for my kids and we play games and I try to keep everyone awake :)
(Jolene Allcock 3:01pm December 31, 2015)
I do not do anything. I have to work New Year's Day.
(Cynthia Cook 10:26pm December 31, 2015)
Well this year I spent it at home with my husband with a migraine. Not fun at all!
(Bonnie Capuano 6:53am January 1, 2016)
A quiet night at home with a nice bottle of wine.
(Angela Daffern 1:20pm January 1, 2016)
at home
(Catherine Myers 3:15pm January 1, 2016)
I will be at home spending my time reading a romance.
(Sharon Good 5:57pm January 1, 2016)
If I'm not working I'm snuggled in bed :)
(LaRonda Atchison 8:32pm January 1, 2016)
Our partying days are over now , we just don't have the desire to go out anymore ,much rather stay home and go to bed . Guess that means we are getting older . LOL Usually we do sat up and watch the ball drop on T.V . Thanks for this giveaway . HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
(Joan Thrasher 8:50pm January 1, 2016)
Fireworks and family game night with my kids.
(Sharon Cook 1:10am January 2, 2016)
Hehehe funny thing, for years I purposely go to bed early!
LOL
I always feel like I am going to wake up in the NEW YEAR,
or I dont, either way ... I will be well rested! ;)
(Lisa Miller 7:32am January 2, 2016)
I spent it at home with my husband
(Bonnie Capuano 8:33am January 2, 2016)
My family and I watch the New Year's Rockin' Eve celebration
on TV and drink sparkling grape juice.
(Karin Anderson 11:39am January 2, 2016)
We usually watch the ball drop on TV from home or a relative's house. We have family time, games, food, etc.
(Kelly Powell 12:43pm January 2, 2016)
I let it come in quietly while I am sleeping--I have seen enough of them not to be too excited about it!
(Carol Gowett 5:26pm January 2, 2016)
I was in bed with a migraine...it had nothing to do with any bubbly either. Darn!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 8:11am January 3, 2016)
Home and early to bed up early for work. Lol
(Gwenn Ostman 3:54pm January 3, 2016)
My husband and I have a nice meal and celebrate quietly
together.
(Janie McGaugh 6:43pm January 3, 2016)
My husband has always worked, so it has been rare to have a
New Year's eve together, but he's never missed an
opportunity to call me as close to midnight as was
possible. And then the kiss when he got home.
(Lori Howe 8:42am January 4, 2016)
I stayed home and even went to bed earlier than usual. I did hear some of my neighbors shooting off their fireworks.
(Anna Speed 11:34am January 4, 2016)
I was wild .... I had a plain DP and was in bead by 10pm lol
(Bobby Jo Parkes 1:19pm January 4, 2016)
A big hug and kiss. :-)
(Deb Pelletier 10:17pm January 4, 2016)
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