Hogmanay ( Scotland's New Year's Eve Celebrations ) , United Kingdom

Hogmanay is celebrated on the 30th December to befriend you with a dash of Scottish flair and is miraculously raucous and well supported.

Nothing can be as boisterous and refreshing as to celebrate the official day of Scotland which is the 31st of December. New Year is expressed on large scale with immense fervor and enthusiasm on Jan 01st. The concept behind celebrating the ‘night of candle’ or Hogmanay is to recall the pagan celebrations of the winter solstice, which were inherited from the Vikings who celebrated Yule in the medieval period. The inhabitants of Scotland follow all customs such as cleaning of house and close surrounds on 31st December earnestly, so that they should be blessed with ample of fortune and prosperity. They also perform burning of juniper branches and carrying it all through the house as they firmly believe that by doing so all their loans and debts would be paid off before the New Year comes.

Hogmanay starts with sensational vistas that include amazing events, unimaginable bands, the singing of the old folk song "Auld Lang Syne", and the spectacular mob that have come to participate from different parts of the countries really change its overall look. Further, some hardy souls throwing themselves into the freezing Forth at the Loony Dook, medley dance at the Street Party, concert in the gardens and Keilidh, plenty of good wishes and kisses, also leave no stone unturned in making this fest a lighthearted carousal. Furthermore, an array of food outlets and bars selling refreshments and a torch-lit procession from Parliament Square to Calton Hill, and number of other activities make it a stupefying event.

Hope next time you will be here when these festivities be taking place. For participation, you are not required to even a single penny but yes, for torches you will be asked to pay as all proceeds from torch sales will be sent to Kids charities.