What is the name of the New Year's Eve celebration held in Scotland on December 31?

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Scotland's New Year's Eve celebration is called Hogmanay.

Hogmanay is the Scottish term for the last day of the year and for the traditional celebrations surrounding it. Modern events can include street parties, torchlight processions, concerts, fireworks, and the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” at midnight.

One important custom is first-footing: the first person to enter a household after midnight is traditionally expected to bring good fortune, sometimes symbolized by gifts such as shortbread, whisky, or coal. Customs vary by region and family, and not every modern celebration follows the older rules.

Hogmanay is often confused with Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25, or St Andrew's Day on November 30. Its name has a debated origin, but its association with Scotland's New Year is firmly established.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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