Hogmanay is the Scottish New Year's celebration known for torchlight processions and street parties.
The word refers to New Year's Eve and the associated celebrations in Scotland, which can continue into January 1 and January 2. Edinburgh hosts one of the best-known modern Hogmanay festivals, featuring concerts, a torchlight procession, fireworks, and a large gathering along Princes Street.
Hogmanay customs combine older winter traditions with later Scottish practices. One famous custom is first-footing: the first person to enter a home after midnight is traditionally expected to bring symbolic gifts such as coal, shortbread, salt, or whisky. The visitor's arrival is meant to bring good fortune for the household.
The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” is also strongly associated with Scottish identity and New Year's celebrations worldwide. Robert Burns wrote down a version of the song in the eighteenth century, while Hogmanay gives it a particularly prominent place in Scotland's public celebrations.