Hogmanay is the Scottish name for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The word refers both to the final day of the year and to the wide range of Scottish customs associated with it. Large celebrations may include concerts, street parties, torchlight processions, fireworks, and traditional songs. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is one of the best-known modern examples, although communities throughout Scotland celebrate in their own ways.
A major custom is first-footing: the first person to enter a home after midnight is traditionally expected to bring good fortune. Traditional gifts can include shortbread, coal, salt, or whisky, reflecting wishes for warmth, food, and prosperity.
Hogmanay is sometimes treated as simply the Scottish spelling of New Year’s Eve, but it has its own history and customs. Its origins are debated, with influences from pre-Christian winter practices and Viking or medieval traditions often discussed by historians.