Friends of A Celtic New Year:

Friends of A Celtic New Year is a group of community members whose aim it is to provide the community with an enjoyable and local opportunity to celebrate the new year, as well as provide musicians, local and otherwise, with a venue to share their music with the community, while raising funds to encourage and support the ambitions of young local performers through the sale of admission buttons.

Tim Whiteford

Lucie Whiteford

Janet Bonneau

Frank and Joyce Stewart

Becky Burk

Caroline King

Jill Danilich

Will Keyworth

Marie Thomas

If you would like to join Friends of a Celtic New Year please use the  contact form   to let us know.

What is “A Celtic New Year”?

A Celtic New Year is a musical celebration of the New Year modeled after Hogmanay which is a Scottish Tradition. Hogmanay is traditionally celebrated in Scotland on December 31st with a Ceilidh (pronounced Kaylee), a musical concert and dance. Another widespread national custom is the practice of “first footing” which starts immediately after midnight on the 31st . Friends visit neighbors’ houses giving them symbolic gifts such as a lump of coal, shortbread, or silverware to bring good luck and prosperity in the coming year. In return, the visitors receive a glass of wine or a “wee dram” as fortitude against the cold night air.

While the musical theme of this event is primarily Celtic, other genres of music are included to provide variety and performance opportunities for our local musicians.