HOGMANAY
Tue, Dec 31
|Edinburgh
Hogmanay is the Scottish word for the last day of the year, and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year in Scottish tradition. The official date is December 31.
Time & Location
Dec 31, 2024, 11:00 PM – Jan 01, 2025, 7:00 AM
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
About the event
Scottish New Year celebration
Scotland welcomes in the New Year with unparalleled fervor and energy during "Hogmanay". Famous throughout the country, this celebration attracts visitors from all over the world to take part in an authentic Scottish experience.
Hogmanay festivities stretch over several days, often beginning on December 30 and continuing through to January 1. Night-time activities take center stage, with street events, concerts, fireworks and lively parties lasting until dawn.
The "First-Footing" tradition and its symbolism
An emblematic tradition of Hogmanay is that of "First-Footing". This involves being the first visitor to cross the threshold of a house after midnight. The person brings symbolic gifts such as coal for warmth, bread for food, a coin for wealth and a drink for health. This practice is loaded with symbolism, bringing good luck and prosperity to the home in the New Year.