by Zain Arif

Created on: December 21, 2011   Last Updated: December 22, 2011

The New Year in Scotland is called Hogmanay, the Scots word for the last day of the year which has become synonymous with celebrating the New Year the Scottish way. If you plan on spending a New Year in Scotland, you wouldn't want to miss out on starting off the celebrations with the torchlight parade, where you can accompany tens of thousands of torch carriers to create a “river of fire”.

The city of Edinburgh is the place to be to celebrate, and festivities last from 30 December to 2 January, so you’ll have plenty of time to join in. The feature event is the Hogmanay street party in Edinburgh, which has visitors from all over the world coming over to join in on the fun.

With nearly 100,000 people taking to the streets for the party, there is plenty to do with music and dancing on the entire length of Princes Street as well as the Mound, Waverly Bridge and in Princes Street Gardens.

This is also the place to be if you’re looking to attend concerts and performances by popular artists with your loved one, since the place hosts numerous such events year after year.

The romantic highlight of the party has to be the moment immediately after midnight, where the people hug and kiss each other and sing along to Auld Lang Syne, a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and sung first here in Scotland before spreading to the rest of  the world.

You can then enjoy the fireworks either at the street party, or at a calmer place where you can be alone for a more romantic time. While the New Year fireworks used to be only launched from Edinburgh castle at one time, they are now launched in six additional locations around Scotland’s Capital City for a much grander performance.

Edinburg has a total of seven hills, and all seven light up with fireworks at midnight on Hogmanay night, with the fireworks from the Castle forming the centrepiece. Calton Hill is one of the best places to watch fireworks alongside your loved one, since you get a view of the fireworks from five of the seven hills.

If you wish to have some time away from the crowd, the Guardian recommends you book a package at the Devere Cameron House on the banks of Loch Lomond, where you can take part in bagpipe-playing, kilt-wearing and whisky tasting, followed by a black-tie ceilidh.

Learn more about this author, Zain Arif.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.