Scotland’s traditional New Year celebration is called Hogmanay.
Hogmanay refers to the Scottish observance of the last day of the old year and the celebrations extending into the new one. Customs vary by place, but they commonly include singing, dancing, fireworks, torchlit events, and visits between households after midnight.
A well-known custom is first-footing: the first person to enter a home after midnight is traditionally expected to bring good fortune. Gifts such as whisky, shortbread, coal, or black bun have historically been associated with the visitor, although modern practice differs.
The word Hogmanay has a disputed origin, with proposed links to French, Norse, Gaelic, and Scots sources. Scotland’s celebration is not the same as Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25, or St Andrew’s Day, Scotland’s national day on November 30.