title: How to set variables in HIVE scripts
body: <p>I'm looking for the SQL equivalent of <code>SET varname = value</code> in Hive QL</p>
  
  <p>I know I can do something like this: </p>
  
  <pre><code>SET CURRENT_DATE = '2012-09-16';
  SELECT * FROM foo WHERE day &gt;= @CURRENT_DATE
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But then I get this error:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>character '@' not supported here</p>
  </blockquote>