Hogmanay is the Scottish New Year celebration known for first-footing after midnight.
First-footing is the custom of being the first person to enter a household after midnight, bringing symbolic gifts such as shortbread, whisky, coal, or salt. Traditional beliefs varied about which visitor would bring the best luck; in many accounts, a dark-haired male visitor was considered auspicious. The practice reflects older ideas about welcoming the new year with warmth, food, and good fortune.
Hogmanay is not simply the name of one party. It refers broadly to Scottish New Year observances, which can include street celebrations, singing “Auld Lang Syne,” torchlight events, and visits between homes. Customs differ across Scotland and have changed over time.
Hogmanay is sometimes treated as interchangeable with New Year’s Day, but the word mainly refers to the celebration surrounding New Year’s Eve and the arrival of the new year. The associated first-footing tradition is especially useful for distinguishing it from generic midnight countdowns elsewhere.