The Scottish name for New Year's Eve is Hogmanay.
Hogmanay refers both to the final day of the year and to the celebrations associated with it. Edinburgh's modern festival is internationally famous for its torchlight procession, outdoor concerts, street party, and fireworks. Other Scottish communities mark Hogmanay with local gatherings, music, dancing, and visits between households.
The word's exact linguistic origin is uncertain. Proposed explanations connect it with French, Scandinavian, Gaelic, and other European language traditions, but no single derivation is universally accepted. The uncertainty about the word's origin does not affect its established modern meaning in Scotland.
Hogmanay traditions include first-footing, in which the first visitor to enter a home after midnight may bring gifts symbolizing prosperity and warmth. Common gifts include food, drink, and fuel. The celebration is sometimes incorrectly treated as another name for Burns Night, but Burns Night is a separate January 25 event honoring Robert Burns.