Edinburgh hosts Hogmanay, one of the world's best-known large-scale New Year's Eve festivals.
Hogmanay is the Scottish name for New Year's Eve and the surrounding celebrations. Edinburgh's modern festival has included concerts, a torchlight procession, street parties, and a fireworks display, although the exact program can change from year to year.
Scottish New Year customs extend beyond public events. First-footing traditionally concerns the first person to enter a home after midnight, with gifts such as whisky, shortbread, or coal symbolizing warmth, food, and prosperity. Singing Auld Lang Syne is another widely recognized part of the occasion.
The word Hogmanay has a debated origin, with proposed links to several languages and older winter customs. No single etymology is universally accepted. Edinburgh's festival should also not be confused with Scotland's entire Hogmanay tradition, which is celebrated in towns and homes throughout the country.