Scotland's New Year's Eve festival, famous for traditions such as first-footing, is called Hogmanay.
Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of the final day of the year, with festivities continuing into January 1 and sometimes January 2. Major celebrations have included concerts, street parties, torchlight processions, and fireworks, especially in Edinburgh.
First-footing is one of its best-known customs. The first person to enter a household after midnight traditionally brings symbolic gifts such as coal, shortbread, or whisky. In some versions of the custom, a tall, dark-haired visitor is considered especially lucky, though practices vary by region and family.
Hogmanay is not simply another name for New Year's Day. It refers particularly to the Scottish New Year celebration and its surrounding customs. “Auld Lang Syne,” strongly associated with Robert Burns, is also central to many Hogmanay gatherings.