Scotland celebrates Hogmanay, including Edinburgh’s famous torchlight procession.
Hogmanay is the Scottish name for New Year’s Eve and the associated celebrations. Edinburgh’s modern festival includes a torchlight procession through the city, concerts, street events, and a large midnight celebration. The exact program and route can change between years.
Scottish New Year customs also include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is traditionally expected to bring symbolic gifts such as food, drink, coal, or salt. The identity and gifts associated with first-footing have varied by region and period.
Hogmanay is not simply another name for Christmas. Historical restrictions on Christmas celebrations in Scotland helped give New Year customs particular cultural importance, although modern Scottish holiday practices include both Christmas and New Year festivities.