Edinburgh hosts Scotland's famous Hogmanay New Year's Eve celebrations.
Hogmanay is the Scottish word for New Year's Eve, and Edinburgh's modern festival is centered around the city's historic streets and landmarks. Events have included torchlight processions, outdoor concerts, street parties, and a midnight fireworks display near Edinburgh Castle.
The celebration reflects several Scottish customs. Singing “Auld Lang Syne” is especially prominent, while first-footing involves being the first person to enter a household after midnight. Traditional good-luck gifts for the first foot can include shortbread, coal, salt, or whisky, although practices differ among families and regions.
Edinburgh's organized festival grew substantially in the late twentieth century and became an internationally known winter event. Hogmanay is not a synonym for Christmas: Scotland historically placed particular emphasis on New Year celebrations, while Christmas observance was more restricted in parts of the country for long periods.