Scotland's New Year's Eve festival, known for torchlight processions and street parties, is called Hogmanay.
Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of the final day of the year, although its events commonly continue into January 1 and January 2. Edinburgh hosts one of the best-known modern celebrations, featuring concerts, a torchlight procession, and a large street party beneath Edinburgh Castle.
The word's exact origin is uncertain. Proposed explanations connect it with Scots, French, Gaelic, and Norse influences, reflecting Scotland's layered linguistic history. Customs associated with Hogmanay include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is traditionally believed to influence the household's luck.
Hogmanay is not the same as Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25. It is also different from Up Helly Aa, a Shetland fire festival held in winter but not specifically the national Scottish New Year's celebration.