Hogmanay is the Scottish New Year’s Eve festival traditionally celebrated with bonfires, music, and gatherings.
Hogmanay refers to Scotland’s New Year celebrations, especially the evening of December 31 and the customs continuing into January 1 and 2. Traditions vary across the country and can include street parties, torchlight events, fire ceremonies, music, dancing, and first-footing visits after midnight.
First-footing is the custom of being the first person to enter a home after midnight. Historically, the visitor might bring symbolic gifts such as coal, shortbread, salt, or whisky. Customs differ by region and household, so no single gift or ritual defines every Hogmanay celebration.
The word’s exact origin remains debated, with proposed links to Scots, Gaelic, French, and Norse-related terms. Hogmanay is not the same as Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25.