New Year in Scotland, or Hogmanay, is celebrated with gusto and nowhere more so than Edinburgh. From traditional Hogmanay house parties, with the New Year first foot guests scurrying from party to party, and on to the street parties, food vendors, live music, ceilidhs, concerts and fireworks of modern celebrations, a New Year holiday or short break visit to Edinburgh is highly recommended.
Hogmanay Night Tradition in Scotland
A typical New Year tradition in Scotland is for crowds to gather round a central market cross or tollbooth in the town to wait for the hour of midnight to strike. As soon as the bells start to ring, the crowds begin cheering, joining hands and breaking into a noisy rendition of the song Auld Lang Syne, with the church bells pealing and any nearby ship foghorns and klaxons blaring, and the sharing of whisky amongst the crowds, the atmosphere can be extremely jolly, to say the least.
New Year Celebrations in Edinburgh, Scotland
From the beautiful gardens and fantastic shopping of Princes Street to the haunted and ghostly Edinburgh Vaults there will be activities to cater for all tastes in Edinburgh.
Hogmanay in Edinburgh, 29 December to 1 JanuarySome details of the Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh follow:
- Four day festival in central Edinburgh, from 29 December to 1 January, with over 100,000 holidaymakers and visitors.
- Celebrations begin on 29 December with a torchlit procession down the Royal Mile which finishes with the ritual burning of a replica Viking longboat at Carlton Hill.
- On 30 December, there is a procession of drummers, pipers and musicians in traditional dress.
- A visit to the Scottish Ceilidh Stage will give an opportunity to perform traditional Scots dances.
- Concerts in St Giles Cathedral throughout the holiday period
- Numerous activities in the Old Town Vaults.
- Funfair.
- Princes Street for fantastic shopping.
- Fireworks.
- Open air music concerts, folk, orchestral and modern.
- Street dancing and parties
31 December, New Year's Eve, or Hogmanay, in Edinburgh
- Crowds gather from early evening to find best spots near the music stages or with a view of Edinburgh Castle.
- Street party begins around 10pm with music - rock bands, traditional Scots and folk music performing live on different music stages around the city and fed to giant screens throughout the town.
- Tickets required for the most popular performance in Princes Street Gardens near the Castle, but often supplied as part of hotel package deals.
- Where entry is limited to pass holders only access can be arranged by buying tickets for the concerts around Princes Street Gardens.
- At first stroke of midnight, firework displays set off from the seven hils surrounding Edinburgh and light up whole city sky.
New Year's Day in Edinburgh
New Year's Day is a traditional public holiday in Scotland which will be celebrated by some hardy Scots with a celebration called the Loony Dook, stripping off for a communal swim in the sea.
Traditional Foods for Hogmanay
Traditional Scots haggis supper is available in the many restaurants around Edinburgh. whilst a delicious winter speciality, hot stovies, will be available for purchase many of the food stalls and stands around the town.
All in all, Edinburgh is highly recommended for a visit particularly at Hogmanay when the town is very atmospheric and crowded with visitors.
See Also:
The History of Hogmanay, for a brief glimpse of the pagan roots of the celebration
Visitor Attractions of Edinburgh for places to visit
4 Ideas for Organising a Scottish Themed Party
Source:
World Party, The Rough Guide to the World's Best Festivals
Dawn Denmar - Studying for a BA in Journalism and History, Dawn's innate curiosity about life has led to articles covering a range of topics and ...
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