What is the traditional name for New Year's Eve in Scotland?

Hogmanay is the traditional Scottish name for New Year's Eve.

The word refers both to December 31 and to the wider set of Scottish customs surrounding the New Year. Its precise linguistic origin is uncertain, with proposed connections to Scots, French, Norse, and Gaelic influences. Historians generally agree that the celebration reflects several layers of Scotland's religious and seasonal history.

Hogmanay customs include singing Auld Lang Syne, visiting friends and relatives, first-footing, torchlight processions, and outdoor gatherings. First-footing traditionally emphasizes the identity and gifts of the first visitor to cross a household threshold after midnight.

New Year celebrations became especially important in Scotland after the Reformation, when Christmas was treated less prominently in parts of the country. Modern Hogmanay events range from family gatherings to large ticketed festivals, particularly in Edinburgh, but the name remains distinctly Scottish rather than a general synonym used throughout the English-speaking world.