Edinburgh hosts the annual Hogmanay street party and torchlight events associated with Scotland's New Year celebrations.
Hogmanay is the Scottish name for New Year's Eve and, more broadly, for the customs surrounding the New Year. Edinburgh's modern festival developed into a large, organized series of events including concerts, a street party, fireworks, and torchlight processions. The exact program can change from year to year, but the city is internationally identified with the celebration.
Scottish New Year traditions include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is associated with luck for the household. Traditional gifts can include shortbread, coal, salt, or whisky, reflecting wishes for warmth, food, flavor, and hospitality.
Hogmanay is not simply another name for Christmas. Historical Scottish customs often gave New Year celebrations greater social importance, partly because Christmas observance was restricted in Scotland for long periods after the Reformation. Edinburgh's festival combines those older customs with modern public entertainment.