Hogmanay is the Scottish word for the New Year's Eve festival traditionally celebrated with singing, dancing, and fire customs.
Although Hogmanay is often used specifically for the evening of December 31, celebrations can extend into New Year's Day and January 2. Traditions include street parties, torchlight processions, ceilidh dancing, and the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” Edinburgh hosts one of the world's best-known modern Hogmanay festivals.
A central 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. In some communities, a tall, dark-haired first-footer is considered especially lucky, though customs differ by region and household.
The origin of the word Hogmanay is uncertain. Proposed connections include French, Norse, and Gaelic terms, but no single etymology is universally accepted. Hogmanay is therefore both a distinctive Scottish name and a collection of regional New Year customs rather than one uniform ceremony.