What is the Scottish name for New Year’s celebrations?

The Scottish name for New Year’s celebrations is Hogmanay. The word refers particularly to Scotland’s New Year festival, whose customs include parties, singing, fire ceremonies, and first-footing.

First-footing involves the first person to enter a home after midnight, traditionally bringing symbolic gifts such as food, drink, coal, or salt. In some traditions, a tall, dark-haired male visitor was considered especially lucky, though modern celebrations are much more varied.

Hogmanay became especially prominent in Scotland partly because Christmas was historically observed less publicly in the Presbyterian country. Edinburgh now hosts one of the world’s best-known organized Hogmanay festivals, although events and street access vary by year. Hogmanay should not be confused with Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25.