Scotland’s traditional New Year celebration is called Hogmanay.
Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of the last day of the year and the New Year period. Its customs include singing “Auld Lang Syne,” first-footing, fire ceremonies, music, and large public gatherings. Edinburgh hosts one of the world’s best-known Hogmanay programs, including a torchlight procession and a major street party.
The word’s origin is uncertain. Proposed connections include French, Gaelic, Norse, and Scots terms, but no single explanation has been universally accepted. The celebration also reflects older winter customs that survived and blended with later Christian and civic traditions.
Hogmanay is not the same as Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25. Up Helly Aa is a separate Shetland fire festival, usually held in winter but not synonymous with Scotland’s New Year celebration.