The Hogmanay event held at Edinburgh Castle is part of New Year's celebrations in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay is a large, organized festival centered on the transition from December 31 to January 1. Its program has included torchlight processions, concerts, street parties, and fireworks viewed against the city's historic skyline.
Edinburgh Castle is a medieval fortress on Castle Rock and serves as one of the celebration's most recognizable backdrops. The castle itself is not the origin of the word Hogmanay; that term refers more broadly to Scottish New Year's festivities and has a debated linguistic history.
Scottish customs associated with the season include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is traditionally expected to bring symbolic gifts. Customs differ by place and family, so they should not be treated as a single universal ritual.