Hogmanay is the name of Scotland's New Year's Eve celebration, famous for torchlight processions and traditional music.
The word refers broadly to Scottish New Year customs and festivities, not just one particular event. Major celebrations have taken place in Edinburgh, where street parties, concerts, torchlight processions, and fireworks draw visitors from around the world. Other Scottish towns and communities hold their own Hogmanay traditions.
A key custom is first-footing. After midnight, the first person to enter a household is traditionally expected to bring good luck, sometimes carrying symbolic gifts such as shortbread, whisky, or coal. Another familiar feature is singing “Auld Lang Syne,” whose Scottish roots connect naturally with the occasion.
Hogmanay's origins are complex. Its customs reflect layers of Scottish, Christian, and older winter traditions, and the precise origin of the word remains debated. It should not be confused with Burns Night, held on January 25 to celebrate poet Robert Burns.