Edinburgh is famous for its large Hogmanay street celebration on New Year's Eve.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay is a major multi-day festival centered on the transition into the new year. Its events have included a torchlight procession, concerts, street parties, and a midnight fireworks display near Edinburgh Castle. The scale and international profile of the event have made Edinburgh one of the best-known destinations for New Year's celebrations.
“Hogmanay” is the Scottish term for New Year's Eve or the associated celebration. Its exact linguistic origin remains uncertain, with several proposed French, Norse, Gaelic, and Scots connections. The festival's traditions also reflect Scotland's own customs, including first-footing, in which the first visitor to enter a home after midnight is associated with good fortune.
Edinburgh's celebration is sometimes treated as interchangeable with all Scottish Hogmanay customs, but local practices vary across Scotland. Edinburgh refers specifically to the capital's organized festival.