Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The word describes a broad set of Scottish customs, parties, concerts, and local traditions rather than one single ceremony.
Important Hogmanay customs include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is associated with good luck, and singing “Auld Lang Syne.” Edinburgh's large public celebration developed into one of the world's best-known New Year events, with torchlight processions, street parties, and concerts.
Hogmanay is sometimes treated as simply the Scottish name for New Year's Eve, but its traditions extend into New Year's Day and can continue for several days. Scotland's distinctive observance also reflects historical differences in religious practice and calendar customs. Burns Night, by contrast, honors poet Robert Burns on January 25 and is not a New Year celebration.