Edinburgh’s New Year’s Day sea-entry tradition is called the Loony Dook.
The Loony Dook is a costumed dip in the cold waters of the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry, near Edinburgh. Participants traditionally parade through the town before entering the water on January 1. The event is associated with Hogmanay and has become a well-known humorous way to begin the new year.
The name combines “loony,” meaning eccentric or foolish in this context, with “dook,” a Scots word related to taking a dip or diving. Participants often wear costumes and raise money for charity, so the event is both a spectacle and a fundraising activity.
The Loony Dook is not the generic name for every winter swim. Similar events occur in many countries, often called polar plunges, but Edinburgh’s event has its own name, location, and Hogmanay connection. Cold-water immersion can be hazardous, so participation requires attention to weather, water conditions, and personal safety.