The Scottish New Year’s Eve festival traditionally associated with Edinburgh is Hogmanay.
Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and for the celebrations surrounding it. Edinburgh’s modern festival has included concerts, street parties, torchlight events, and the midnight singing of Auld Lang Syne. It is one of Scotland’s best-known annual cultural events.
Scottish Hogmanay customs include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a household after midnight is believed to influence the household’s luck. Traditional gifts may include coal, shortbread, salt, or whisky, reflecting wishes for warmth, food, and prosperity.
Hogmanay is not simply another name for Christmas. Historical religious attitudes toward Christmas in Scotland, along with older winter customs, helped give New Year celebrations unusual prominence. Edinburgh hosts the best-known large festival, but Hogmanay is celebrated throughout Scotland and is not limited to the capital.