Edinburgh’s famous New Year’s Eve celebration, featuring a torchlight procession, street party, and concert, is Hogmanay.
Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of the last day of the year and the arrival of the New Year. Edinburgh’s modern festivities commonly include a torchlight procession, large outdoor gatherings, live music, and fireworks near Edinburgh Castle, although exact programs can change from year to year.
The word’s origin is disputed, with proposed connections to French, Norse, Gaelic, and Scots vocabulary. Scotland’s New Year customs also include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is associated with luck for the household.
Hogmanay is not simply another name for Christmas. Historically, Christmas was less prominent as a public holiday in Scotland for long periods, while New Year observances remained especially important. Today, Hogmanay describes both Scotland’s broader traditions and major organized celebrations such as Edinburgh’s.