James McAvoy explains 'Hogmanay' and peculiar Scottish New Year custom on 'Late Night with Seth Meyers'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Late-night host Seth Meyers recently had James McAvoy as the first guest of 2024 on 'Late Night', and what ensued was an enlightening and entertaining conversation about Scottish New Year traditions.

Meyers, seemingly perplexed, shared a clip of McAvoy explaining the meaning behind 'Hogmanay,' shedding light on the unique customs that define the Scottish celebration.

First footing tradition

Meyers kicked off the banter by expressing his gratitude for being the first guest of the year, to which McAvoy humorously responded, "Hey, I first footed you." The audience erupted in cheers, setting the stage for an exploration of the Scottish tradition of 'first footing.'

"In Scotland, where I come from, in my country," McAvoy began in a playful accent, "When New year strikes, the first person that comes into your house has to be bringing something good. Like some food, some coal, traditionally coal to keep your house warm and to keep you fed." McAvoy elaborated on the consequences of not bringing these items, revealing that the unlucky person is banished outside in the cold.

The cold reality of first footing

McAvoy's animated storytelling vividly described the unfortunate individual standing in the snow, holding a lump of coal and a glass of drink while everyone else inside celebrated. Meyers, trying to grasp the concept, humorously noted, "So you're fixing the game. You're like, we're going to put some good luck outside."

The actor agreed, likening it to playing the man at his own game, acknowledging that it's indeed a lousy job because "it sucks" and involves enduring the cold.

Meyers added a comedic touch by asking how early they send the unfortunate person out, to which McAvoy responded, "It's only like five, ten minutes, but you miss the good bit."

Hogmanay - the Scottish new year

To further delve into Scottish traditions, Meyers inquired about the name for New Year's Eve in Scotland, learning that it's called 'Hogmanay.' McAvoy playfully instructed him on the pronunciation, extending the "nay" like a horse's neigh and explaining that it's spelled "hog" but pronounced as "hug."

The conversation revealed that Hogmanay has been a longstanding tradition in Scotland, rich in history and culture.