Hogmanay

[hog-muh-ney]

noun

Scot.

1. the eve of New Year's Day.

2. (lowercase),  a gift given on Hogmanay.

Hogmanay

/ ˌhɒɡməˈneɪ /

noun

1. (sometimes not capital)

   1. New Year's Eve in Scotland

   2. ( as modifier ) See also first-foot

      a Hogmanay party

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hogmanay¹

First recorded in 1670–80; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hogmanay¹

C17: Scottish and Northern English, perhaps from Norman French hoguinane, from Old French aguillanneuf the last day of the year; also, a New Year's eve gift

Example Sentences

The Lib Dem leader talked of "male voice choirs and Hogmanay, county shows and school fairs, fish and chips, village greens and cricket pavilions".

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Organisers have announced the acts for this year's Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations, with Wet Leg set to ring in the bells.

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She has also appeared on BBC titles such as Radio Café, Authors Live and the Hogmanay Show.

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"And New Year is not Hogmanay like the rest of the country, with the 13th being the equivalent of the 1st," he explained.

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A man has been arrested in connection with an alleged hit and run that left a woman dead in Paisley on Hogmanay.

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When To Use

What is Hogmanay?

Hogmanay is the Scottish term for New Year's Eve.

In Scotland, Hogmanay festivities often begin well before the day and in some places consist of several days of events, such as parades and nighttime processions, street parties, bonfires, and music and dance gatherings known as ceilidhs. For some, the celebration of Hogmanay rivals that of Christmas.

The holiday is associated with a number of customs, including the so-called first-foot traditions. In particular, according to Hogmanay tradition, a dark-haired man crossing the threshold of a house at midnight will bring good luck.

The word can also refer to a gift given on Hogmanay. When used in this sense, it’s often lowercase (hogmanay).