Hogmanay & New Year breaks in Scotland

Scotland's Hogmanay celebrations guarantee a warm welcome and more new friends than you ever knew you had, all in a frenzy of goodwill! At midnight, sing along with Auld Lang Syne. For an unforgettable Hogmanay break, it's got to be Scotland.

Hogmanay in Edinburgh

When it comes to Hogmanay, Edinburgh certainly knows how to put on a show, whether it's the famous Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party, toe-tapping ceilidhs or live musical performances in Princes Street Gardens.

Find out more on visiting Edinburgh

Drams in Dufftown

Dufftown in Speyside is known as the 'malt whisky capital of the world'. While most of its New Year celebrations are much the same as you would find in small towns and villages up and down the country, it has its own special twist. After the annual Hogmanay ceilidh at a local hotel, the community gathers in The Square where drams of whisky and pieces of shortbread are shared out to see in the bells, courtesy of the local Glenfiddich distillery and Walkers biscuit factory. Slainte!

Burghead's Burning of the Clavie

The residents of Burghead in Moray don't celebrate their New Year on 31 December. Instead, they ignore the Gregorian calendar introduced in the 1750s and continue to celebrate 'old Hogmanay' on 11 January instead. They parade the clavie - a wooden barrel filled with wooden staves - through the town before setting it alight on a nearby hill, leaving it to smoulder well into the next day. The origins of the Burning of the Clavie are subject to debate, but as it takes place later than the official New Year's Eve, it's the perfect excuse to celebrate twice!

Why is the event called Hogmanay?

'Hogmanay' is the Scottish word for the last day of the year, and is associated with New Year's Eve and the celebrations that come with it. It is still unsure where the name originated from, but it is believed the word may have come about during the reign of Mary Queen of Scots and thought to be derived from the French word 'Hoginane' meaning 'gala day'.

What are the main Hogmanay traditions?

• First-footing - to ensure good luck, the first foot to arrive in your house on New Year's Day should be a dark-haired male (believed to be a throwback to Viking days when blonde strangers arriving on your doorstep meant trouble). The first-footer should also bring symbolic gifts, such as coal, shortbread, salt, black buns or whisky, to ensure good fortune for the year ahead.
• Clean the house - to begin the New Year with an unclean house is considered bad luck. Houses used to be cleared throughout to welcome the New Year into a tidy and neat house, including taking out the ashes from the fire in the days when coal fires were common.
• Clear your debts - an old superstition states that you should try to clear all your debts before the stroke of midnight.
• Sing Robert Burns' Auld Lang Syne after midnight - this custom is a staple of Hogmanay parties across the country (and many countries around the world too!). After the bells at midnight, join in a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne to start the New Year in real Scottish style.

What do Scots say at Hogmanay?

At the bells in Scotland, people usually shout 'Happy New Year' before embracing friends and family.

What is the difference between Hogmanay and New Year?

Hogmanay is New Year's Eve (31 December) and New Year is referring to New Year's Day (1 January). Hogmanay celebrations in Scotland often continue into New Year's Day and even to the 2 January.

Auld Lang Syne's writer, history and how to sing along

Who wrote auld lang syne?

Auld Lang Syne was written down by Robert Burns in 1788 to preserve the Scottish language and culture after Scotland and England had formed the UK in 1707. Burns decided to travel around the country to collect and publish old Scots poetry and songs, so that this bit of Scotland’s spoken history wouldn’t fade from memory. Auld Lang Syne was one of the songs he found and features a mix of Scots and English words.

What does auld lang syne mean?

The title is written in Scots, which is a language similar to English. The latest census in 2011 showed that around 1.5 million Scottish people reported being able to speak Scots fluently. Auld Lang Syne literally translates to "old long since" and is about remembering the good old days.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp!
and surely I’ll be mine!
we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes,
and pou’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fitt,
sin’ auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,
frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin’ auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
and gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak’ a right gude-willie-waught,
for auld lang syne.

Learn more about Robert Burns' famous poems and songs