What Is Hogmanay Like In Edinburgh?

Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of the New Year, and one of the grandest celebrations is in the country's capital, Edinburgh. The celebration in Edinburgh officially begins on December 29th.  The start of the celebration kicks off with a procession of over 12000 torch bearers carrying flaming torches through the city. Some of the torch bearers dress in Viking costumes to celebrate their heritage. The procession starts at Parliament Square on the Royal Mile and follows a Viking longboat with bagpipes and drums accompanying the trail. The longboat is eventually burnt on Calton Hill.

On New Year's Eve there is a carol concert in St Giles´ Cathedral, plus various dances, discos and street parties in other allocated buildings and streets around the Royal Mile. Before the clock strikes 12, hundreds of thousands of people gather for a loud last ten second countdown. Fireworks are unleashed on the city skies as New Year arrives upon, and the revellers sing traditional songs and wish everyone well. The revelries continue into the night, and continue the next day in the form of fun runs and river dips.