Hansel Monday in Scotland and Northern England

These days, the first couple of weeks of January have become a traditional period of abstinence and broken resolutions: As the Christmas decorations are packed away, our bodies mysteriously refuse to be squeezed into clothes that fitted just fine a few weeks ago.

Our ancestors had a better way of dealing with the end of the festive period: Hansel (or Handsel) Monday, also known as Diluain Traoighte in Gaelic. Traditionally, Hansel Monday is the first Monday in January and is marked by giving small gifts, tips or tokens (known as handsels) to servants, children and beggars, or to someone you owe a debt of gratitude. If you are given silver on Hansel Monday you are guaranteed good luck with money for the rest of the year. However, you should never give someone a sharp object as this will cut apart your friendship.