Edinburgh’s traditional New Year's Eve celebration in Scotland is called Hogmanay.
Hogmanay is the Scottish name for the last day of the year and the celebrations surrounding it. Edinburgh is internationally known for its large organized festival, which has included torchlight processions, street parties, concerts, and a midnight fireworks display. The exact program can change from year to year.
Scottish New Year customs include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a household after midnight is believed to influence the household’s luck. Traditional gifts may include whisky, shortbread, coal, or salt, reflecting warmth, hospitality, and prosperity. Singing “Auld Lang Syne” is also strongly associated with Hogmanay.
Hogmanay 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. The word’s precise origin is disputed, with proposed influences from French, Norse, Gaelic, and Scots linguistic traditions.