Scotland’s traditional New Year’s celebration is called Hogmanay.
Hogmanay includes customs and public events held on the evening of December 31 and into January 1. Edinburgh is particularly known for a large celebration featuring concerts, a torchlight procession, and a midnight fireworks display.
The word’s origin is uncertain, and historians have proposed influences from French, Norse, Gaelic, and other traditions. Scotland’s New Year customs also include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is thought to influence the household’s luck.
Hogmanay is distinct from Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25. It is also separate from St Andrew’s Day, Scotland’s national day on November 30.