How to Celebrate Hogmanay in Scotland
If you are planning to spend Hogmanay in Scotland, this blog post will give you the lowdown on all the Scottish New Year traditions you need to know to celebrate New Year’s Day like a local.
Hogmanay is a significant event in Scotland, and naturally, it has its own set of uniquely Scottish New Year traditions to follow. These customs are why it is one the most memorable countries in which to welcome a fresh year. Alongside the concerts, fireworks and fun fairs you’ll find in many cities around the world, if you are spending New Year’s in Edinburgh, Dundee or Glasgow, or even smaller towns and villages, you’ll enjoy some uniquely Scottish New Year customs.
The Origins of Hogmanay
Scottish New Year traditions often have their origins in Pagan or Celtic culture. They are about light in the darkness, community and generosity to neighbours.
The roots of Hogmanay stretch back to pagan midwinter festivals, when fire symbolised survival and renewal. Norse influences brought torchlit processions, while Gaelic customs emphasised hospitality and cleansing for the year ahead. Though the Christian Church once discouraged such revelry, these traditions endured so that for much of Scotland’s history, the New Year has been more important than Christmas.
First Footing
One of the best-known Scottish New Year traditions is “first footing.” After midnight has struck, the first person to cross a household’s threshold is thought to determine its fortune for the year.
Custom dictates that the ideal first footer is a tall, dark-haired man. This is meant to derive from the days of Viking invasions, when a fair-haired stranger at the door might have signalled danger rather than luck. The first footer often arrives bearing symbolic gifts, such as coal for warmth, shortbread or black bun for food, and whisky for good cheer. These offerings represent prosperity, comfort, and celebration.
Families prepare to welcome the first footer with warmth and hospitality. In many communities, neighbours and friends visit each other’s homes well into the early hours. The tradition is especially strong in the Highlands and Islands, though it continues to thrive across Scotland as a whole.
That Song
Auld Lang Syne is, of course, famous as the Scottish song that sees in the New Year around the world.
The phrase itself means “old long since” or, more loosely, “for the sake of old times.” It speaks to the importance of remembering long-standing friendships and shared experiences, especially as people look ahead to a new year. Most people only know the first verse and chorus, but the original Burns poem contains several more stanzas that delve deeper into the theme of long-standing friendship, shared hardship, and the passing of time.
Who wrote Auld Lang Syne?
The lyrics were written as a poem by the beloved Scottish national poet Robert Burns in 1788, drawing on lyrics from earlier songs and set to a traditional folk tune. Auld Lang Syne is written in Scots, which is a distinct Germanic language closely related to English, not to be confused with Scots Gaelic, which is a Celtic language.
Its global popularity is put down to the Canadian bandleader Guy Lombardo, who with his band,the Royal Canadians, made Auld Lang Syne a New Year’s Eve staple in North America. They first performed it during a New Year’s Eve broadcast from New York’s Roosevelt Hotel in 1929. The tradition stuck, and for decades, his version played just after the ball dropped in Times Square.
Did you know?
Auld Lang Syne was also one of the first songs broadcast from space when the crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavour played the song as a New Year’s greeting to Mission Control!
Superstitions and Sayings
Scottish New Year Traditions for Luck
Scots take the turn of the year seriously and many traditions reflect the idea of clearing out the old. Houses are cleaned top to bottom (sometimes called “redding” the house) before midnight. This tradition is meant to sweep away bad luck and prepare for good fortune. Debts are paid and disputes settled before Hogmanay so you can begin the new year with slates wiped clean. Some families, especially in rural areas, still open the back door to let the old year out (sometimes also opening the front door to let the new year in).
New Year Greetings
Traditional greetings are part of Scottish New Year traditions too. Alongside Auld Lang Syne, you may hear phrases like “Lang may yer lum reek” (long may your chimney smoke) or “A guid New Year to ane an’ a’” (“a good New Year to one and all”) being exchanged.
Fire Festivals and Torchlight Parades
Unsurprisingly, given its pagan origins, many Hogmanay traditions involve fire, which represents purification and the driving away of evil spirits. Each year (weather permitting), Edinburgh holds a torchlight procession where thousands march down the Royal Mile carrying torches. In Stonehaven, locals swing blazing fireballs overhead in a dramatic display, which originated in a belief that they would burn away evil spirits. Shetland and other regions host their own fiery rituals, drawing on their Viking heritage. In Biggar, South Lanarkshire, there’s a torchlight parade and a large bonfire, with the bonfire lit at around 9:30 pm.
Ceilidhs
You will find Hogmanay ceilidhs across cities, towns, and villages in Scotland – from grand, formal events to local dances in village halls. A ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) involves folk music and group dancing. The dances — such as the Gay Gordons, Strip the Willow, and Dashing White Sergeant — are often led by a caller so don’t worry if you have never tried Scottish dancing before, everyone can have a go.
Hogmanay Ceilidhs for 2025/26
The Hogmanay Ceilidh at The Ferry, Glasgow
Doors open 9:00 pm for general admission; dinner reservations from 6:30 pm. The event runs until about 2:00 am. International ceilidh band, Coila Ceilidh Band, will provide the music with their entertaining caller walking people through the dances. Advance tickets cost £29 + booking fee with the 3 course dinner & ceilidh package coming in at £79. It is advisable to book early
Hogmanay Ceilidh in Charteris Centre, Edinburgh
A very reasonably priced and fun night of traditional Scottish dances with Caller Ken Gourlay, ceilidh band; all the dances will be walked through and called. Soft drinks £1, alcoholic drinks £3. No high heels!! 8p-11pm £10 entry
Strathearn Arts Hogmanay Family Ceilidh, Crieff
Family friendly fun between 7:30pm and 10:30pm with ceilidh band Tarmachan (named after the classic walking route just north of Killin and Loch Tay) providing the music and their experienced caller leading the dancers. Fully Licensed Bar. Doors open at 7pm; music starts at 7.30pm; the event finishes at the family-friendly time of 10.30pm. This was a sell out event last year.
The Loony Dook is a quirky and increasingly popular Scottish New Year’s Day tradition that sees brave participants plunging into freezing cold waters, usually dressed in fancy costumes. The Loony Dook takes place in South Queensferry, just outside Edinburgh (close to Big Sky Campers HQ), in the chilly waters of the Firth of Forth, with the iconic Forth Bridges as a dramatic backdrop. The event began rather informally in 1986 as a joke between friends nursing New Year’s hangovers, but it quickly caught on and is now a major annual fundraiser for local charities.
The first dip in 2026 will take place from the Boathouse Steps at 1:30pm
Common Questions About Scottish New Year Traditions
What is Hogmanay?
Hogmanay is the Scottish word for New Year’s Eve. It describes both the day itself and the celebrations surrounding it.
What does Hogmanay mean?
Its exact origin is debated, with theories linking it to French, Norse, and Gaelic roots. Today it simply means the turn of the year in Scotland.
What is first footing at Hogmanay?
First footing is the custom of the first visitor after midnight bringing luck, often with gifts of coal, whisky, or bread.
New Year in Scotland in a Campervan
Hotels book out quickly at New Year and transport options are limited. A campervan sidesteps all of that, giving you both transport and a cosy base. For nature lovers, it’s the perfect way to begin the year. Park by the sea, hike a forest trail, or simply sit with a mug of tea watching the January light shift over the mountains.
Hire a campervan from us for Hogmanay
Our campervans are available for hire over Christmas and Hogmanay. There is a minimum hire period of 4 nights over Christmas or Hogmanay. We are not open every day for pickups or returns during this period.
Got a question? Give us a call.
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