Editing Handsel Monday (section)

==History==
The word "handsel" originates from old Saxon word which means “to deliver into the hand”. It refers to small tips and gifts of money given as a token<ref>[http://www.scotslanguage.com/articles/words/1154 Handsel at Scots Language Centre] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130705033754/http://www.scotslanguage.com/articles/words/1154 |date=2013-07-05 }}. Retrieved 4 July 2013</ref> of good luck, particularly at the beginning of something; the modern house-warming gift would be a good example. An 1825 glossary marks Handsel Monday as an occasion "when it is customary to make children and servants a present".<ref>John Trotter Brockett, A glossary of north country words, in use, 1st edition, 1 vol., Newcastle upon Tyne: 1825.</ref> On this day, tips of small gifts were expected by servants,<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handsel%20monday Definition at Merriam-Webster]. Retrieved 4 July 2013</ref> as well as by the postman, the deliverers of newspapers, scavengers, and all persons who wait upon the house.

In this respect it is somewhat similar to [[Boxing Day]], which eventually supplanted it.<ref name="World Dict" /> If the handsel was a physical object rather than money, tradition said that the object could not be sharp, or it would "cut" the relationship between the giver and the recipient. The day is known in [[Scottish Gaelic]] as {{lang|gd|Diluain Traoighte}} (drained Monday).

The custom was also known as “handseling a purse”. A new purse would not be given to anyone without placing money in it for good luck.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/T100054.html |title=The History of Ireland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726125426/http://www.ucc.ie:80/celt/online/T100054.html |archive-date=26 July 2013}}</ref>{{fv|date=December 2022}} Money received during Handsel Monday is supposed to ensure monetary luck all for the rest of the year.

The period of festivities running from [[Christmas in Scotland|Christmas]] to Handsel Monday, including [[Hogmanay]] and [[Ne'erday]], is known as the Daft Days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotslanguage.com/articles/node/id/316|title=Scotslanguage.com - Fergusson's Daft Days|website=www.scotslanguage.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/feast|title=Dictionary of the Scots Language:: SND :: feast}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/daft|title=Dictionary of the Scots Language:: SND :: daft}}</ref>