'Our remote island celebrates New Year on January 13 - it's how we've always done it'
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A remote British island celebrates New Year's Day today as part of a centuries-old tradition - and locals say they wouldn't have it any other way. Foula, a tight-knit community of less than 40 people in the Shetland Isles roughly 600 miles from London, will mark the beginning of the new year today a whole 12 days later than everyone else. That's because it has proudly stuck to the old Julian calendar system, more than 270 years after the rest of the country switched to the Gregorian calendar during George II's reign. On Foula, they celebrated Christmas on January 6 rather than December 25, and New Year's Day on January 13.
Locals say they tend to mark the occasion in "family-focussed" way, visiting each relative's home to share a drink, have a catch-up and to wish them luck for the year ahead. Later, after dinner, it's off to someone else's house for a full New Year's party.
Robert Smith, 27, holds down a number of important jobs on the island, including manning the ferry, working at the water treatment plant, operating tours, and delivering post - but today he will celebrating just like everyone else. He said some aspects of the day share common themes with first footing, an old Scottish, Manx and northern English tradition whereby the first visitor of the year can bring good fortune for the months ahead should they have certain characteristics.
Speaking to the BBC, he said of Foula's New Year's Day: "I think growing up it felt unique. But our New Year has similarities with first-footing. You go round houses with a drink, stay a while, and catch up. Then maybe home for dinner and then somewhere for a party into the small hours. In Foula it's family-focussed, it's more intimate, and we are always playing music together. It's something the island is known for. It's a good bonding thing. It is how we have always done it.".
