Scotland's New Year's Eve celebration, held on December 31, is commonly called Hogmanay.
Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of the year's last day and the beginning of the new year. Its customs include singing “Auld Lang Syne,” first-footing, torchlight events, street parties, and fireworks. Large public celebrations are especially associated with Edinburgh.
The word's origin is disputed. Scholars have proposed connections with Scandinavian, French, Gaelic, and other linguistic traditions, so no single explanation is universally accepted. The celebration itself also reflects multiple historical influences, including winter festivals and Scotland's religious history.
First-footing is one of the best-known customs. The first person to enter a household after midnight traditionally brings symbolic gifts such as food, drink, coal, or salt. In some traditions, a tall, dark-haired man is considered especially lucky as the first visitor. Hogmanay is not the same event as Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25.