Hogmanay is the Scottish name for New Year’s Eve celebrations and the New Year season.
The word refers both to the final day of the year and to associated customs that may continue into New Year’s Day. Scotland’s Hogmanay traditions combine older winter festivities with later Christian and civic practices. Large public events are held in cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Stirling.
One famous custom is first-footing: the first person to enter a home after midnight is traditionally expected to bring good fortune. Gifts such as shortbread, whisky, or coal have historically been associated with the custom, although practices vary among families and regions. Singing “Auld Lang Syne” is also central to many Scottish celebrations.
Hogmanay is not the same event as Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25. Beltane is a separate seasonal festival linked with May, while Up Helly Aa is a Shetland fire festival held in winter. Edinburgh’s modern street celebrations are among the world’s most prominent Hogmanay gatherings.