Edinburgh hosts the annual Hogmanay New Year celebration in Scotland. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is a major multi-day festival centered on the arrival of the Scottish New Year.
The word Hogmanay refers to New Year’s Eve celebrations in Scotland, while Edinburgh’s event developed into a large organized festival featuring concerts, a torchlight procession, street parties, and fireworks. The exact program can vary by year.
One famous custom is the torchlight procession through the city, which draws on fire-related winter traditions. Another is the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” the song strongly associated with New Year celebrations in Scotland and many other countries.
Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital and provides a distinctive historic setting for the event, including views toward Edinburgh Castle. The celebration is sometimes confused with Hogmanay as a whole: Hogmanay is the Scottish tradition, whereas Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is the city’s particular festival.