Edinburgh hosts the famous Hogmanay New Year's celebration in Scotland. Edinburgh's Hogmanay is a large annual festival centered on the city's streets, squares, and historic landmarks.
Hogmanay is the Scots word for New Year's Eve, although celebrations commonly continue into New Year's Day. Edinburgh's modern festival developed into a major organized event in the late 20th century, building on older Scottish customs such as visiting friends and family after midnight. The program has included torchlight processions, concerts, street parties, and fireworks.
A well-known Scottish custom is “first-footing,” in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is believed to influence the household's fortunes. Traditional gifts can include food, drink, or coal. Edinburgh's event is often confused with Scotland's nationwide Hogmanay customs, but the internationally famous organized festival specifically takes place in Edinburgh.