When Do The Scots Celebrate Hogmanay?

Hogmanay is celebrated by the Scots on the last day of the year. The official date for celebrating lent is the 31st of December but celebrations generally continue into the next two days as well. It is believed that not unlike many other holidays celebrated in the west Hogmanay has pagan origins. There are various individual customs associated with Hogmanay. The most widely practiced of these is a practice known as first-footing which begins after the hour of midnight. The custom involves a person crossing a friend's threshold. The custom also involves giving symbolic gifts and presents in the form of coal, salt, black bun etc.

One of the customs associated with Hogmanay that attracts a lot of attention from tourists is the throwing of burning fire balls into the harbour in the middle of the night in the town of Stonehaven, Kincardineshire.