Hogmanay is the Scottish name for New Year's Eve celebrations, especially those featuring singing and fire festivals.
The word refers both to the final day of the year and to the associated customs. Modern Hogmanay commonly includes a countdown, the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” first-footing visits, fireworks, torchlight processions, and public concerts. Edinburgh hosts one of the world's largest organized Hogmanay events.
First-footing is the practice of being the first person to enter a home after midnight. Traditional gifts such as shortbread, coal, salt, or whisky symbolized warmth, food, flavor, and good fortune. Customs vary across Scotland and are not all practiced in every household.
Hogmanay developed from a mixture of older winter, Christian, and Scandinavian influences, but its exact word origin remains uncertain. It is not another name for Burns Night: Burns Night honors poet Robert Burns and takes place on January 25.