Froe-stick used at Halloween for whipping up cream from Glengairn, Aberdeenshire (late 19 cent.)

ABDUA:17990

Hogmanay la17- 
The last day of the year celebrated with bonfires, divination rites and guizing etc. 

The burning of the clavie among the fishermen of Burghead, and the casting of the cavel among the fishermen of Nairn. Both are remanents from the days of the Norsemen, and may possibly be older still. The whole scene is singularly weird and impressive. The dark sullen northern light; the wreathing smoke of the smouldering beacon; the twisting streams of fire rushing down the sloping hill..the shouts, the screams, the laughter of the crowd in its efforts to secure the smoking embers
Charles Rampini 1897 'A history of Moray & Nairn' 

A young lad from Burghead, along with other accomplices, was cited, on the 20th January, 1689, for having made a burning clavie, paying a superstitious worship and blessing the boats after the old heathenish custom. What the Burghead fishermen on the threshold of the opening year, the Celt did on Halloweve, the beginning of his year.
J.M. McPherson 1929 'Primitive Beliefs in the North East of Scotland'.