Hogmanay is the traditional Scottish name for New Year's Eve celebrations in Scotland.
The word describes both the final day of the old year and the customs surrounding the transition into the new one. Its exact origin is debated, with proposed links to French, Gaelic, Norse, and Scots terms. The uncertainty about the word's etymology does not affect its modern Scottish meaning.
Hogmanay customs include first-footing, in which the first person to enter a home after midnight is thought to influence the household's luck. Visitors may bring symbolic gifts such as coal, shortbread, or whisky. Edinburgh's large public celebration developed into a major festival featuring concerts, processions, and fireworks.
Hogmanay is not the same as Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25. It is also distinct from St Andrew's Day, Scotland's national day, observed on November 30.