Edinburgh is the Scottish city especially associated with Hogmanay celebrations on New Year's Eve.
Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and for the traditional Scottish New Year festivities. Edinburgh's modern celebration includes concerts, torchlit processions, street events, and a large midnight fireworks display. Its public festivities developed into a major international event during the late twentieth century, although Scottish New Year customs are much older.
One famous custom is first-footing: the first person to enter a home after midnight traditionally brings symbolic gifts such as coal, shortbread, or whisky. In older belief, the visitor's identity and appearance could influence the household's luck for the coming year.
Hogmanay is not simply another name for Christmas. In Scotland, New Year historically carried special social importance, and January 1 remains a public holiday. Celebrations also vary across Scotland, but Edinburgh is the best-known large-scale host city.