Edinburgh is famous for its multi-day Hogmanay New Year's Eve festival.
Hogmanay is the Scottish word for New Year's Eve, and Edinburgh's celebration developed into a large public festival featuring concerts, street gatherings, torchlight events, and a midnight fireworks display near Edinburgh Castle. The exact program varies by year and can be affected by weather or public-safety decisions.
The modern festival expanded substantially in the late twentieth century, helping establish Edinburgh as an international destination for New Year celebrations. Traditional Scottish elements may include ceilidh dancing, processions, and singing “Auld Lang Syne.”
Hogmanay does not mean only Edinburgh's event: the word refers broadly to Scottish New Year customs. Edinburgh is the city associated with the best-known organized festival, while communities throughout Scotland hold their own celebrations.