The fascinating history of Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year

• In Scotland, New Year's Eve is known as Hogmanay and involves several fun traditions.
• The holiday dates back to the 1600s, when Christmas was made illegal throughout the country.

As the new year approaches, people around the globe are preparing to ring in 2024 with various traditions and celebrations.

In my home country, Scotland, New Year's Eve is known as Hogmanay and it's one of my favorite holidays. There are many Hogmanay traditions that are unique and specific to Scotland, such as first footing, which means being the first person to visit a relative or loved one after midnight on January 1 to wish them well for the year ahead.

Here's a wider look at the history of Scottish New Year, which has been celebrated throughout the country since 1600, according to Scotland.org.

Hogmanay became popular in Scotland after Christmas was canceled

The exact origins of the word "Hogmanay" are unknown, but it was thought to have first become popular after Mary, Queen of Scots, returned to Scotland from France in 1561, BBC News reported in 2012.

The name can be linked back to various international phrases, including the French term, "hoginane," which translates to "gala day," Donna Heddle, a Professor of Northern Heritage at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland, told BBC News.

The history of Hogmanay celebrations is complicated. New Year's Eve was thought to have become a popular holiday in Scotland after 1640, when Christmas was banned due to its links to Roman Catholicism, according to the National Trust for Scotland.

Christmas was illegal for 400 years and only became a public holiday in 1958, according to Scottish newspaper The National.

Before Christmas was reinstated, Scottish citizens turned to Hogmanay for festivities but the traditions that ensued are still popular to this day. For example, first footing traditionally involves bringing coal to someone's door for good luck, according to Scotland.org.

While I've never brought anyone coal, I enjoy being the first person to visit a family or friend on January 1 to wish them a happy new year. Growing up, it was typical for my family to "first-foot" relatives, such as my grandparents.

Hogmanay in the present day

A more recent tradition involves singing "Auld Lang Syne," usually right after midnight on Hogmanay.

The song was penned by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788 as a response to Scotland and England forming the UK in 1701, according to the tourism organization Visit Scotland. Burns included several traditional Scots phrases in the song to ensure Scotland's language and culture would be remembered. For example, the word "jo" means "dear," and "fiere," translates to "friend," the organization states.

These days, the song is known all over the world and many Scottish people sing it while linking arms to ring in the new year.

Like many other countries, people in Scotland celebrate New Year's Eve with parties, balls, street parties, and live music events. The country's capital city, Edinburgh, hosts several events every year, including a live concert and a torchlight procession.