Scotland hosts the Hogmanay tradition called the Loony Dook on New Year's Day.
The Loony Dook is a costumed swim in cold water held at South Queensferry, near Edinburgh. Participants typically parade through the town before entering the Firth of Forth, often raising money for charity. The event takes place on January 1, so it follows rather than forms the midnight celebration itself.
Its name combines “loony,” suggesting eccentric behavior, with “dook,” a Scots word related to dipping or bathing. The event became associated with Edinburgh's wider Hogmanay celebrations and developed into a distinctive, humorous start to the new year.
The Loony Dook is not the same as the Hogmanay street party or torchlight procession. Those are separate Edinburgh traditions and events. Participation depends on organization, safety arrangements, weather, and local rules, while spectators commonly watch the swimmers from the riverfront.