Edinburgh hosts the large Scottish New Year's celebration known as Hogmanay.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay includes concerts, torchlight events, street gatherings, and fireworks, with programs centered on the city's historic streets and landmarks. The word “Hogmanay” refers broadly to Scottish New Year's Eve customs, not only to the Edinburgh festival.
Scottish traditions associated with Hogmanay include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is believed to influence the household's luck. Customs vary, but gifts such as shortbread, coal, or whisky have traditionally been associated with welcoming the first foot.
Edinburgh's modern event grew into a major international festival, but Hogmanay customs are older than the current organized program. Scotland's winter celebration also features the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” a song strongly connected with the country's cultural identity.