HOGMANAY could be among the cultural events and traditions to be officially recognised and protected in a new UK heritage list.
The UK Government will soon be seeking submissions from the public to nominate their favourite traditions to be recorded in a new Inventory of Living Heritage.
Hogmanay and highland dancing are among the traditions that could feature, alongside the likes of cheese rolling and London's Notting Hill Carnival.
The term Hogmanay is used to refer to the last day of the year and is synonymous with New Year's Eve.
The UK-wide inventory will aim to start a conversation and raise awareness and keep track of the crafts, customs and celebrations that are valued across the country.
Heritage minister Baroness Twycross said: “The UK is rich with wonderful traditions, from Gloucestershire’s cheese rolling to folk music and dancing and the many heritage crafts that we practise, such as tartan weaving and carving Welsh love spoons.
“I would encourage everyone to think about what traditions they value so that we can continue to celebrate them, tell our national story to the rest of the world and safeguard the traditions that make us who we are.”
The UK Government will work with the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to create the inventory, considering submissions from communities who practise living heritage and from those who practise traditions brought to the UK by immigrant communities.
This comes after the UK signed the 2003 Unesco Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Culture Heritage, which requires member states to compile an inventory of living heritage practised by communities in each country.
Nominations will be considered under seven categories including performing arts, crafts and social practices such as festivals and customs.
Sports and games will also be a category along with oral expressions including poetry and storytelling, culinary practices, and nature, land and spirituality.
