Edinburgh hosts the Hogmanay street party that traditionally fills Princes Street.
Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and Edinburgh's event is among the best-known public celebrations in Scotland. Its central street party takes place around Princes Street and nearby areas, with concerts, processions, fireworks, and large crowds.
The word Hogmanay has uncertain origins, and several language theories have been proposed. Scottish New Year customs include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight brings symbolic gifts such as whisky, shortbread, or coal. These customs vary by region and household.
Edinburgh's modern festival developed into a large organized event during the late twentieth century. It is not identical to every Scottish Hogmanay celebration: communities across Scotland hold their own gatherings, often including bonfires, music, and local traditions. Princes Street is therefore a location clue for Edinburgh's major public festival, not a definition of Hogmanay itself.