New Year’s Eve in Scotland is called Hogmanay.
Hogmanay is not only the name of a single city festival; it refers to Scottish New Year customs and celebrations held across the country. Public parties may include music, dancing, fireworks, and torchlight events, while families may observe the change of year at home. Edinburgh’s internationally famous festival is the largest and most visible example, but Hogmanay traditions are found throughout Scotland.
The word’s ultimate origin is uncertain. Proposed explanations have connected it with French, Norse, Gaelic, and other linguistic influences, and no single etymology is universally accepted. That uncertainty does not affect the meaning of the modern celebration. First-footing is one of its best-known customs: after midnight, the first visitor to enter a home may bring gifts intended to symbolize prosperity, warmth, and food for the year ahead.