Slàinte mhòr agus a h-uile beannachd duibh!

Which is Gaelic for “Great health and every good blessing to you.”

May the best ye hae ivver seen be the warst ye’ll ivver see.
May the moose ne’er lea’ yer girnal wi a tear-drap in its ee.
May ye aye keep hail an hertie till ye’r auld eneuch tae dee.
May ye aye juist be sae happie as A wuss ye aye tae be.

The above, in translation, reads:
May the best you have ever seen be the worst you will ever see.
May the mouse never leave your grain store with a tear drop in its eye.
May you always stay hale and hearty until you are old enough to die.
May you still be as happy as I always wish you to be.

Here’s to all those that I love
Here’s to all those that love me.
And here’s to all those that love those that I love,
And all those that love those that love me.
(You have to think about that one!)

I drink to the health of another,
And the other I drink to is he -
In the hope that he drinks to another,
And the other he drinks to is me!

Here’s to them that like us -
Them that think us swell -
And here’s tae them that hate us -
Let’s pray for them as well!

Here’s to the heath, the hill and the heather,
The bonnet, the plaid, the kilt and the feather!

Here’s to the heroes that Scotland can boast,
May their names never dee -
That’s the Heilan’ Man’s Toast!

Here’s tae us -
Wha’s like us -
Damn few -
And they’re a’ deid -
Mairs the pity!

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
The sun shine warm upon your face,
The rain fall soft upon your fields.

Lang may yer lum reek! (Long may your chimney smoke!)
Wi’ ither folks coal! (With other people’s coal!)
(The second line is said to have originated in Edinburgh! – only joking Adullamite!)

May we be happy – and our enemies know it!

A guid New Year and mony may ye see.

May ye ne’er want a frien’ or a dram to gie him.

When we’re gaun up the hill of fortune, may we ne’er meet a frien’ comin’ doun!

Which all adds up to me wishing you all the happiest and healthiest of new years for 2012. Have a good day today and every day. We’re having the traditional Scots neerday lunch of steak pie today. No doubt Burns Selkirk grace will come to mind as we prepare to tuck in:

Some hae meat, and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat -
And sae the Lord be thankit.

O Thou who kindly dost provide
For every creature’s want!
We bless Thee, God of Nature wide,
For all thy goodness lent.
And, if it please Thee, heavenly Guide,
May never worse be sent;
But, whether granted or denied,
Lord bless us with content.

Advertisement