Hogmanay is the Scottish name for New Year celebrations that include Edinburgh’s major festivities.
The word refers to the Scottish celebration of the last day of the year and the customs surrounding the arrival of January 1. Its exact linguistic origin is debated, with proposed links to Scots, French, Norse, and other European influences.
Edinburgh’s modern Hogmanay program is known for concerts, a torchlight procession, street celebrations, and fireworks. Customs associated with Hogmanay can also include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is believed to influence the household’s luck.
Hogmanay developed particular importance in Scotland partly because Christmas celebrations were historically more restrained there after the Reformation. New Year therefore became the major winter festival for many Scottish communities.