Hogmanay

Hogmanay is the New Year's festival in Scotland and parts of northern England. Britannica

The name is also used for the dole of bread, cake, or sweets then given to the children who go from house to house soliciting it with traditional rhymes. Britannica One of those rhymes concludes with "Rise up and gie's our Hogmanay." Britannica

On this evening it is traditional for parties of masked children or young men to visit houses as guisers or mummers. Britannica

The singing of "Auld Lang Syne" on New Year's, now a worldwide custom, originated during Hogmanay. Britannica The holiday also reportedly introduced the practice of bell ringing to mark the new year. Britannica

Britannica says the holiday "reportedly" introduced bell ringing to mark the new year. We keep that word. It is not a settled invention-claim.

First footing predicts good luck and prosperity if the first visitor to one's house after midnight is a tall, dark-haired man bearing a ceremonial gift, such as coal or salt. Britannica

A local custom is the "burning of the clavie" (a bonfire of split casks, in which a nail plays a part), which still flourishes at Burghead in Moray. Britannica

Hogmanay is widely regarded as one of Scotland's most important holidays, and it is not uncommon for festivities to last until January 2. Britannica

First-footing, and the Isle of Man's own Qualtagh, have a page of their own. Auld Lang Syne has its own page too, including the earlier poems and the familiar tune.