1. Yearly Calendar
2. /
3. Festivities
4. /
5. United Kingdom

2nd January

1. Pagan and Viking Influences: The origins of Hogmanay can be traced back to ancient pagan and Viking traditions. Prior to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, which moved New Year's Day to January 1st, Scotland celebrated the arrival of the New Year around the winter solstice, which fell around December 21st. These celebrations were influenced by pagan and Viking customs and practices associated with the changing of seasons and the rebirth of the sun.

2. Suppression of Christmas: During the Protestant Reformation in the 16th and 17th centuries, the celebration of Christmas was discouraged or even banned in Scotland due to its association with Catholicism. As a result, the focus of festive celebrations shifted to New Year's Day (Hogmanay), which became the most important holiday in the Scottish calendar.

3. Customs and Traditions: Hogmanay is marked by various customs and traditions that have been passed down through generations. Some of the most well-known traditions include «first-footing», where the first person to enter a household after midnight brings gifts and good luck for the coming year. There are also fire festivals, such as the famous «Burning of the Clavie» in Burghead, where a barrel filled with tar is set on fire and paraded through the town.

4. Midnight Celebrations: The stroke of midnight on December 31st signals the start of Hogmanay festivities in Scotland. Celebrations include fireworks displays, the singing of traditional songs like «Auld Lang Syne» by Robert Burns, and the raising of toasts to the New Year with a glass of whisky. Many people also participate in «ceilidhs», which are traditional Scottish dances held in community halls or gatherings.

5. Symbolic Actions: Symbolic actions are often performed during Hogmanay to leave behind the old year and welcome the new one. For example, some Scots participate in «Redding the House», which involves cleaning their homes to symbolize a fresh start. Others engage in the «Loony Dook», where brave individuals take a dip in freezing cold water, often for charity, to cleanse themselves of the past year.