Hogmanay is the Scottish name for the New Year celebration held on December 31.
The word refers broadly to Scottish New Year customs and festivities, including parties, street events, songs, and visiting friends and family. The celebration’s importance was strengthened by Scotland’s historical restrictions on Christmas festivities after the Reformation, which helped make New Year the major winter holiday in many communities.
Customs associated with Hogmanay include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight brings symbolic gifts, and singing “Auld Lang Syne.” Large organized events have been held in cities such as Edinburgh, although formats can change because of weather, safety, or public-health decisions.
Hogmanay is sometimes treated as simply the Scottish word for December 31. More precisely, it names the celebration and its surrounding customs, not just the calendar date.