ABSTRACT

New Year’s Eve (or Hogmanay as it is known in Scotland) is celebrated in many countries around the world, and often takes the form of a public celebration with fireworks, music and a carnival atmosphere. However, Hogmanay itself is a long-standing festival in Scotland with roots going far back into pagan times. Some of the rites and rituals associated with Hogmanay are centuries old, and the tradition of celebrating New Year’s Eve (as Hogmanay) on a grander scale than Christmas has been a part of Scottish life for many hundreds of years.