What is the name of Scotland’s major New Year’s celebration?

Scotland’s major New Year’s celebration is called Hogmanay.

Hogmanay refers to Scottish New Year festivities, especially the celebrations surrounding December 31 and January 1. Customs include street parties, torchlight events, singing “Auld Lang Syne,” and first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is traditionally expected to bring good fortune.

The word’s origin is disputed. Scholars have proposed connections to French, Gaelic, Norse, and Scots vocabulary, and no single etymology is universally accepted. The uncertainty concerns the history of the word, not the identity of the celebration.

Edinburgh hosts one of the best-known modern Hogmanay programs, but Hogmanay is celebrated across Scotland. It is also distinct from Burns Night, which commemorates poet Robert Burns on January 25, and from St Andrew’s Day, Scotland’s national day.