The Scottish New Year's Eve celebration known for torchlight processions and traditional parties is Hogmanay.
Hogmanay is the Scottish name for the final day of the year and the celebrations surrounding the New Year. Its customs combine older winter traditions with later Scottish social practices. Major events have been held in cities such as Edinburgh, where crowds gather for concerts, street parties, and fireworks.
A well-known custom is first-footing: the first person to enter a household after midnight is traditionally expected to bring symbolic gifts such as shortbread, salt, coal, or whisky. The visitor is associated with good fortune for the household in the coming year.
Another central tradition is singing “Auld Lang Syne,” the famous song associated with Scottish poet Robert Burns. Hogmanay is not simply another name for Christmas; it is a distinct Scottish New Year festival with its own customs and history.