Hogmanay is Scotland's traditional New Year's Eve celebration, known for torchlight processions and fire ceremonies.
The word describes the Scottish observance of the last day of the year and, by extension, the celebrations around it. Customs can include singing “Auld Lang Syne,” visiting friends and family, first-footing, fireworks, and torchlit events. Fire is especially prominent in some Scottish towns, where processions or symbolic burnings mark the transition into a new year.
Hogmanay is often confused with Burns Night, which honors poet Robert Burns on January 25, or with Up Helly Aa, a separate Shetland fire festival held later in winter. Scotland has several local Hogmanay traditions rather than one single national ritual. The name therefore identifies the broader Scottish New Year's celebration, not just one particular parade or city event.