Which city hosts the Hogmanay Torchlight Procession on December 30 as part of its New Year's Eve season?

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Edinburgh hosts the Hogmanay Torchlight Procession on December 30 as part of its New Year's Eve season.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay is a major multi-day festival involving concerts, street celebrations, and traditional customs. The torchlight procession normally travels through the city toward Holyrood Park, where participants gather for a ceremonial finale. It takes place before December 31, so it is an opening event rather than the midnight countdown itself.

The procession draws on Scotland's association with fire festivals and winter customs, while its modern large-scale form developed as part of Edinburgh's organized Hogmanay celebrations. Thousands of torchbearers can create a striking river of light through the historic city center.

Hogmanay is the Scottish name for New Year's Eve and its celebrations, but the question's specific event is the Torchlight Procession. It should not be confused with Edinburgh's separate street party, which is held on December 31.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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