Edinburgh is especially associated with the annual Scottish New Year's Eve celebration known as Hogmanay.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay developed into a large public festival featuring street celebrations, concerts, processions, and fireworks. Princes Street and the area around Edinburgh Castle have been prominent settings for major events, although the exact program and access arrangements can change between years.
The city is not the only place in Scotland that celebrates Hogmanay. Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, island communities, and many smaller towns also hold their own events. Edinburgh is the internationally prominent example because of its large-scale public programming and historic city setting.
Hogmanay itself is the Scottish name for New Year's Eve and its celebrations, while Edinburgh's festival is a particular city event. This distinction matters because the word does not refer exclusively to one venue or one fireworks show. Customs such as first-footing and singing “Auld Lang Syne” are found more broadly across Scotland.