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Hogmanay in Edinburgh, Scotland

A round-up of the biggest New Years Eve celebrations in the World

The Hogmanay festival is a Scottish tradition famous throughout the world. It is when Scots joyously come together to celebrate the previous year and the new, upcoming year. Unlike many parts of the world the celebration is not solely a party for one evening on the 31st December instead the festivities last for days.

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is famous for holding the best Hogmanay celebrations in Scotland. Edinburgh hosts the biggest New Year’s Eve party in the world with its Hogmanay Street Party, shutting down the city centre so that thousands of people from all over the world can listen to top musicians, join together in a ceilidh dance, watch the most spectacular of fireworks displays and sing the world’s biggest rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

firweorks

The Edinburgh Hogmanay festival actually begins on the 30th December with a torchlight process starting at George IV Bridge and proceeding up to Carlton Hill to watch another magnificent firework display. With many celebrations happening on New Year’s Eve during the day, a real highlight is the Candlelit Concert in St Giles Cathedral, a must-do event.

To shift those hangovers in the morning of January 1st hundreds of people gather in South Queensferry to take part in the Loony Dook which involves diving into the River Forth, in the shadow of the famous Forth Rail Bridge, in a skimpy outfit to raise money for charity, proving that Scots are perhaps the barmiest nation of all.

loony dook

This year we totally sold out all our Hogmanay packages, so book early to avoid disappointment. Book from January 5th 2015, to reserve your 2015/16 Hogmanay packages with Glory Days and Destination Edinburgh.

 

 

For further information and other Scottish Hogmanay destination ideas look at:

http://www.visitscotland.com/holidays/seasonal-breaks/hogmanay-breaks