Edinburgh's major New Year's Eve street festival is commonly called Hogmanay.
Hogmanay is the Scots word for the final day of the year, and it also names Scotland’s New Year celebration. Edinburgh’s modern festival developed into a large public event featuring concerts, torchlight processions, fireworks, and gatherings along the city’s central streets. Its best-known celebrations are held around Princes Street and the city centre.
Scottish New Year customs include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is traditionally expected to bring good fortune. Customs vary by region and household; traditional gifts can include food, drink, or fuel.
Hogmanay is not the same as Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25. It is also broader than a single fireworks display: the term covers Scotland’s wider New Year traditions, while Edinburgh’s festival is its most internationally recognized public expression.