Hogmanay is Scotland’s traditional name for New Year’s Eve celebrations, especially the major festival in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh’s modern Hogmanay festivities include concerts, street events, fireworks, and a torchlight procession. The celebrations developed from Scottish customs surrounding the end of the year and are now a major international tourism event. The exact program can change from year to year, but the name remains strongly associated with Scotland’s New Year.
A central custom is first-footing: the first person to enter a household after midnight is traditionally expected to bring luck. In some versions, gifts such as shortbread, whisky, coal, or salt symbolize warmth, prosperity, and hospitality. The practice varies by region and household.
Hogmanay is not the same as Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25. It is also broader than a single song or ceremony. Edinburgh’s festival is one famous expression of a nationwide Scottish New Year tradition.