Edinburgh hosts the annual Hogmanay street party and torchlight procession on New Year's Eve.
Hogmanay is the Scottish name for New Year's Eve and the surrounding celebrations. Edinburgh's modern program has included a torchlight procession, concerts, a large street party, and midnight fireworks near Edinburgh Castle. The precise program can change because of weather, safety decisions, or public-health measures.
The celebration developed from Scotland's distinctive New Year customs, including first-footing, in which the first visitor to enter a home after midnight is traditionally thought to influence the household's luck. Singing Auld Lang Syne is another important Scottish connection, since the song is associated with Robert Burns.
Edinburgh's event is not the only Hogmanay celebration in Scotland. Cities, towns, and villages hold their own gatherings, and some feature bonfires, music, or local rituals. The capital's internationally promoted street party is simply the best-known large-scale example.