Hogmanay is the Scottish New Year's celebration held around December 31 and January 1.
The word refers to Scotland's distinctive set of New Year's customs and events rather than to one single ceremony. Modern Hogmanay celebrations can include torchlight processions, concerts, street parties, fireworks, and traditional gatherings. Edinburgh hosts one of the best-known large-scale programs, but Hogmanay is celebrated throughout Scotland.
A central custom is first-footing. The first person to enter a household after midnight is traditionally expected to bring symbolic gifts such as coal, shortbread, or whisky. In older interpretations, a tall, dark-haired man was considered especially lucky as the first visitor.
Hogmanay is not the same holiday as Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25, or St Andrew's Day on November 30. Its exact linguistic origin is debated, but its role as Scotland's New Year festival is firmly established.