Experience the magic of Edinburgh's New Year's festival, Hogmanay, a vibrant celebration steeped in tradition and folklore. From torchlit parades to ceilidhs, fireworks, and a dip in the icy Firth of Forth, Hogmanay offers a unique and unforgettable experience.
This article is part of FT Globetrotter’s guide to Edinburgh . Outdoor activities in the freezing-cold Scottish night may sound gruelling, but Edinburgh ’s New Year ’s festival has enough fire and flame to keep you warm. The city’s four-day celebration of Hogmanay (the Scottish word for the last day of the year) kicks off with a torchlit parade dating back to pagan times — and culminates in cannons and fireworks erupting from the medieval castle that overlooks the city.
In the days between, revellers sing their hearts out, dance at ceilidhs (traditional Scottish folk dances) and cradle hot toddies outside fogged-up pub windows. The partying comes to an abrupt end on January 1 with a swim in the frigid Firth of Forth. Hogmanay has been the primary winter celebration in Scotland ever since Christmas “Yule” was banned in 1640 during the Protestant reformation, and New Year’s Eve stepped in to satisfy the need for an end-of-year blowout. Ironically for the Protestants, the ban revived pagan customs across Scotland such as house cleaning on the “night afore” the new year to sweep away any lingering bad fortune, fire parades and first-footing — the belief that the first person to cross the threshold on January 1 will bring good or bad fortune to the household for the year ahead. The most desirable first-footers were dark-haired men bearing gifts like whisky, coal or peat for heating, bread and silver coins. In Edinburgh, candlelit Hogmanay gatherings used to take place around the 17th-century Tron Kirk church, culminating with a rendition of “Auld Lang Syne”, the poem by Robert Burns set to folk music. The celebration grew wilder over time and attracted more visitors, and in 1993 the city organised the first official street party occupying the main thoroughfare of Princes Street and Gardens. A traditional element is retained with the candlelit concert in St Giles Cathedral on the evening of December 3
Festivals Hogmanay Edinburgh Scotland New Year Tradition Folklore Festival Fireworks Ceilidh First Footing
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