The name of New Year's Eve in Scotland is Hogmanay.
The celebration is more than a single midnight event. In Scotland, Hogmanay commonly includes December 31 festivities and customs continuing through January 1 and January 2. Major events may feature concerts, street gatherings, torchlight processions and fireworks, while household traditions include first-footing and singing Auld Lang Syne.
Hogmanay's history reflects Scotland's distinctive calendar and religious past. Christmas celebrations were reduced or discouraged in Scotland after the Reformation and remained comparatively restrained for centuries, helping New Year become the season's major winter festival. The origin of the word itself remains uncertain. Scholars have suggested French, Gaelic, Norse and Scots explanations, and no single etymology is universally accepted. The celebration should not be confused with Burns Night, which honors Robert Burns on January 25.