Scotland’s traditional New Year’s Eve festival is called Hogmanay.
Hogmanay refers to Scottish New Year celebrations, especially the evening of 31 December and the customs continuing into the first days of January. Its origins are debated, with influences from medieval winter festivals, Scottish traditions, and Nordic practices often discussed by historians.
Important customs include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is expected to bring symbolic gifts such as coal, shortbread, or whisky. Edinburgh’s modern Hogmanay celebrations include organized concerts, street events, and fireworks, while local customs differ across Scotland. Hogmanay is not simply the name of one party or one city event; it describes a broad national tradition. The word’s precise linguistic origin remains uncertain, despite several proposed explanations.