Hogmanay is the night of 31 December

What is first-footing?

After midnight the first person over the threshold brings something for the house, often food or a drink. In some households a dark-haired first guest is preferred. Hogmanay is the night of 31 December, a Thursday in 2026, into Friday 1 January. In Scotland that night has long weighed more than Christmas did in much of England.

Edinburgh’s ticketed street party is one city’s version. The night is older than the party. The collection is a named Scottish place or food. St Andrew’s Day on 30 November was the national day at the start of this same month of dark.

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