What is Hogmanay, the Scottish term for New Year's Eve celebrations?

Hogmanay is the Scottish term for New Year's Eve celebrations.

The word describes both the final day of the year and the associated Scottish customs and public events. Celebrations can include torchlight processions, concerts, fireworks, singing, and first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight brings symbolic good fortune.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay is one of the best-known modern festivals and has featured large outdoor gatherings and torchlight events. Scottish celebrations also commonly include Auld Lang Syne, the song linked with Robert Burns. Hogmanay is sometimes treated as simply another name for a party, but the term carries a distinct Scottish cultural history and includes traditions that developed over centuries.