Hogmanay is the traditional Scottish name for New Year's Eve celebrations, including Edinburgh's major festival.
The word refers both to the last day of the year and to the customs surrounding the arrival of the New Year. Its precise origin is uncertain, and proposed roots include French, Norse, Gaelic, and Scots-language influences. No single etymology is universally accepted.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay developed into a large organized festival featuring torchlight processions, concerts, street parties, and a midnight fireworks display. Events vary by year, but the city celebration is internationally associated with Princes Street and Edinburgh Castle.
A famous Hogmanay 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 salt have historically symbolized warmth, food, prosperity, and hospitality. Hogmanay is distinct from Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25.