Burning the Old Year Out at Biggar

The claim of Druid origins is a familiar one for fire customs across Scotland and is not supported by any early source, which the local group is careful to point out. The custom is undoubtedly long-lived and well documented from the 19th century onward. The wish to burn out the old year fits the wider tradition of Hogmanay fire customs such as the Stonehaven fireballs, though those are not in Lanarkshire.