The traditional New Year's Eve event called Hogmanay is associated with Scotland.
Hogmanay is the Scots word for the New Year's Eve celebration, although modern festivities can continue into January 1 and beyond. Major public events have taken place in cities such as Edinburgh, where torchlight processions, concerts, and fireworks form part of the program.
Scottish Hogmanay combines public celebration with household customs. First-footing, the arrival of the first visitor after midnight, is one of the best-known traditions. Singing “Auld Lang Syne” is another practice strongly linked with Scottish cultural identity and New Year celebrations internationally.
The origin of the word Hogmanay is uncertain. Proposed connections include Scandinavian, French, and Scots linguistic influences, and no single explanation is universally accepted. The celebration itself, however, is firmly established as Scotland's distinctive New Year festival.