by M M Johns

Created on: November 30, 2009

"Hog`manay" - The old name, in Scotland, for the last day of the year, on which children go about singing, and receive a dole of bread or cakes; also, the entertainment given on that day to a visitor, or the gift given to an applicant.

There can be no better venue in the world to celebrate the arrival of the New Year than in Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh. The whole city is geared up to host the celebrations and provide the visitor with a once in a lifetime experience. The atmosphere builds in the week preceeding the 31st December culminating in a party of truly gigantic proportions entertaining visitors from around the world.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay is the world's biggest and best New Year's party. As a spiritual home to Robert Burn's song Auld Lang Syne, the four day festival hosts an entertaining and engaging programme of festive celebrations, with activities suitable for the whole family. The festival highlight is the world-renowned New Year's Eve street party attracting up to 100,000 people every year.

The iconic Torchlight Procession opens the festival creating a dramatic 'river of fire' through the city, from the Royal Mile to Calton Hill with as many as 25,000 people taking part. Music runs throughout the programme from the music festival in Princes St. Gardens which has seen headline acts such as Blondie, Kasabian, Scissor Sisters and Groove Armada perform, to the traditional ceilidhs, music stages and DJ sets all contributing to the unrivalled party atmosphere. Seeing in the New Year with a bang, Edinburgh is illuminated by fireworks displays from the world famous Castle and from Carlton Hill.

The majority of hotels in the city Centre cater for the festival with programmes to entertain their guests in the buildup to and during the celebrations. A visitor arriving in the days preceeding the Festival will be kept busy with a round of dinners, ghost walks around the Old Town and visits to the Winter Wonderland set in the Princes Street Gardens. Enjoy ice skating in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, ride the big wheel and view the lights which illuminate the city. The Gardens are transformed into a fairy tale picture with each tree lit and decorated in such a way as to grab the visual senses. Of course, a visit to the Castle is a must for the first time visitor to Edinburgh.

There are far too many attractions to list here, however, hotels and local tourist offices are more than willing to help make the visit to the Festival a really unforgettable experience for young and old alike. What better way to bring in the New Year than joining hands and singing Auld Lang Syne in the company of 100,000 revellers.

Tickets for the street party may be obtained through the hotels and cost ten pounds for the street party and 35 pounds for admission to Princes Street Gardens where the live music takes place.

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