Hogmanay is the Scottish New Year's Eve festival known for torchlight processions, fireworks, and traditional celebrations in Edinburgh.
The word “Hogmanay” refers to the Scottish celebration of the last day of the year and the customs surrounding it. Modern public events in Edinburgh developed into a large annual festival featuring concerts, street gatherings, a torchlight procession, and fireworks. The city’s celebrations attract visitors from Scotland and abroad, although exact programs vary from year to year.
Hogmanay customs include “first-footing,” in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is believed to influence the household’s luck for the coming year. Traditional gifts may include shortbread, coal, salt, or whisky. “Auld Lang Syne,” the song associated with the midnight transition in many countries, is especially connected with Scottish New Year celebrations. Hogmanay is distinct from Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25.