Scotland’s traditional New Year celebration is called Hogmanay.
Hogmanay includes gatherings, music, street parties, fireworks, and customs that vary by region. Edinburgh hosts one of the world’s best-known modern Hogmanay festivals, with concerts and public celebrations around the turn of the year.
A central custom is first-footing: the first person to enter a household after midnight is traditionally expected to bring gifts such as whisky, shortbread, coal, or salt. In some traditions, a tall, dark-haired man is considered especially lucky as the first visitor, though modern practice is much less strict.
The word’s origin is uncertain. Proposed links include French, Norse, Gaelic, and Scots-language sources. Hogmanay is broader than any single parade or event, so it should not be confused with Edinburgh’s separate Loony Dook tradition, in which participants enter cold water on New Year’s Day.