What date is celebrated as Hogmanay in Scotland?

Hogmanay is Scotland's traditional celebration held on December 31.

The word refers to Scottish New Year's Eve customs and festivities, including street parties, music, torchlight processions, and “first-footing.” In that tradition, the first person to enter a household after midnight is expected to bring symbolic gifts such as coal, shortbread, or whisky, with dark-haired visitors historically considered especially lucky in some regions.

Modern Hogmanay celebrations combine older Scottish customs with organized public events. Edinburgh's Hogmanay is among the best-known, featuring concerts, processions, and fireworks around the turn of the year.

Hogmanay is sometimes confused with New Year's Day itself, but its main celebration begins on the evening of December 31 and continues through midnight into January 1. Scotland's distinctive winter customs were also shaped by the long historical importance of Christmas and New Year observances in Scottish society.