Edinburgh hosts the New Year’s Eve event known as Hogmanay, including the annual Concert in the Gardens.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is a multi-day celebration centered on the transition from December 31 to January 1. Its program has included a large street party, live music, torchlight events, and the Concert in the Gardens beneath Edinburgh Castle. The exact schedule and performers can change, but Edinburgh is the internationally recognized host city.
“Hogmanay” is the Scottish word for New Year’s Eve celebrations, rather than the name of only one concert. Customs connected with it include singing “Auld Lang Syne,” visiting friends after midnight, and first-footing, in which the first visitor to enter a home is associated with luck for the household.
Edinburgh’s event should not be reduced to the Royal Mile alone. The street, gardens, castle setting, and surrounding city spaces have all played roles in different parts of the celebration.