Hogmanay is the Scottish name for New Year's Eve and the celebrations surrounding the arrival of the new year.
The word refers both to the night of December 31 and, in common usage, to the broader Scottish festivities that may continue into January 1 and January 2. Edinburgh's Hogmanay is especially well known for its organized concerts, torchlight events, fireworks, and street celebrations.
Scottish Hogmanay customs include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a household after midnight is traditionally associated with bringing luck. Gifts such as food, drink, coal, or other household supplies were historically linked with the custom. Singing “Auld Lang Syne,” the poem associated with Robert Burns, is also strongly connected with New Year celebrations in Scotland and internationally.
Hogmanay is not the name of a Scottish spring festival. Beltane is a separate seasonal celebration, while Burns Night takes place on January 25.