Scotland’s traditional New Year’s Eve celebration is called Hogmanay.
Hogmanay refers to Scottish New Year customs and festivities, including public gatherings, music, dancing, and visiting friends or relatives after midnight. The word’s origin is uncertain, and historians have proposed several possible French, Norse, Gaelic, and Scots connections. No single explanation has been universally accepted.
One important Hogmanay custom is first-footing. The first person to enter a household after midnight is traditionally expected to bring symbolic gifts such as coal, shortbread, salt, or whisky. In older custom, a tall, dark-haired man was considered especially lucky, although modern practice varies widely.
Hogmanay is broader than one particular city festival. Edinburgh hosts a famous multi-day event, but the word applies to Scotland’s national New Year traditions and celebrations generally. It is also distinct from Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25.