Scottish New Year Traditions

Sharing Edinburgh's Hogmanay festivities

Hogmanay has always been considered one of the most important celebrations in the annual calendar in Scotland. Here are four things we do in Edinburgh…

Friends,

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to get out of my head and simply create more content, including this newsletter - which was entirely parked for much of 2025.

For the year ahead I’m coming back with weekly posts here on Dreaming of Scotland, using it as a place to share the best of Scotland, things I come across I think you’d enjoy, and tips for those visiting.

New Year became important in Scotland because Christmas was once banned. The ban began after Scotland broke from the Roman Catholic Church, with the new Protestant Church of Scotland (the Kirk) viewing Christmas as a “popish” (Catholic) festival with no biblical basis. The ban endured from 1640 to 1712.

Granted, this was a long time ago, but this shaped Hogmanay into being a much more important event for us.

The modern version in the Scottish capital is a 4-day series of events and draws hundreds of thousands of people from all around the world. I’ll share some of the key components below:

Torchlight Procession

The Torchlight Procession is one of Hogmanay’s most visually striking traditions, and when all participants have lit their torches, it leads to a river of fire winding through Edinburgh’s historic streets. While today’s event feels almost theatrical, its roots lie in ancient winter fire festivals, where flame symbolised purification, protection, and the promise of returning light after the darkest days of the year.

Historically, fire rituals marked seasonal change across Scotland and northern Europe. Carrying light through the town was believed to ward off evil spirits and cleanse the old year’s misfortune. In modern Edinburgh, thousands of torchbearers gather at dusk, marching together through the Old Town before climbing Calton Hill, or Hollyrood Park, where the city glows below in a breathtaking finale.

Today, it’s less about superstition and more about shared experience, and a fun moment that sets the tone for Hogmanay: reflective, dramatic, and unmistakably Scottish. This year’s event happened on Monday 29 December.

Ceilidh

At the heart of Hogmanay lies the ceilidh, a Scottish celebration of music, movement, and togetherness that dates back centuries. Traditionally held in homes, village halls, or barns, ceilidhs were social gatherings where neighbours came together to dance, share stories, and welcome the New Year as a community.

The dances themselves, which are lively reels, jigs, and group sets, were designed to include everyone, whether experienced or not. That inclusive spirit remains today. Modern Hogmanay ceilidhs, from grand city halls to outdoor stages, still revolve around live folk bands, energetic callers, and the joyful chaos of people spinning, laughing, and learning steps on the fly.

Today, several ceilidh’s are held in and around Edinburgh during the Hogmanay celebrations.

New Years Street Party

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party has become one of the world’s most iconic New Year celebrations - a modern spectacle framed by centuries of history. While public celebrations of the New Year are relatively recent in Scotland, the scale and drama of Edinburgh’s event feel perfectly at home beneath its skyline.

As the bells approach midnight, crowds fill Princes Street, music echoes through the city, and anticipation builds beneath the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. When midnight strikes, fireworks erupt from the castle rock, lighting up the city in a moment that feels both ancient and electric.

It’s a celebration where past and present collide, medieval stone, modern music, and a shared countdown that unites locals and visitors alike in a single, unforgettable moment of fireworks above Edinburgh’s iconic castle. This year’s midnight headline act beneath the castle is Wet Leg.

Loony Dook

Few Hogmanay traditions capture Scotland’s sense of humour quite like the Loony Dook. Held on New Year’s Day in the icy waters of the Firth of Forth, this tradition sees brave - or mad - participants plunge into the sea, often dressed in outlandish costumes.

While the organised event began in the 1980s, the idea behind it is far older. Cold-water bathing has long been associated with cleansing, renewal, and starting the year fresh - both physically and spiritually. The Loony Dook simply adds a distinctly Scottish twist: charity fundraising, fancy dress, and a healthy dose of laughter.

For whatever reason, this event was tied in with Edinburgh’s official Hogmanay celebrations for years, and is now no longer an official event. Today, spontaneous Loony Dooks take place at shorelines all across Scotland, and especially Edinburgh - from South Queensferry, to Portobello and North Berwick.

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I just want to take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy New Year. I hope you enjoy tonight however you are celebrating, and I wish you and family wealth, health and happiness for the year ahead.

Shaun