What name is given to New Year's Eve in Scotland?

New Year's Eve in Scotland is called Hogmanay.

The term covers both the final day of the old year and the customs used to welcome the new one. Scottish Hogmanay celebrations can include torchlight processions, ceilidh dancing, concerts, fireworks, and gatherings with family and friends.

One of the most recognizable customs is first-footing. Traditionally, the first visitor to cross a home's threshold after midnight should bring gifts that symbolize luck and household well-being. A dark-haired first-footer was historically considered especially lucky in some regions.

The word Hogmanay has no universally accepted etymology. Suggested influences include French, Norse, Gaelic, and northern English terms. This uncertainty does not affect its modern meaning: Hogmanay is the established Scottish name for the New Year period, not a general name for Christmas or a spring festival.