Hogmanay

Hogmanay

December 31

In Scotland and the northern part of England, the last day of the year is known as Hogmanay. There are a number of theories as to where the name comes from—one of them being that it derives from the ancient Scandinavian name for the night preceding the feast of Yule, Hoggu-nott or Hogg-night . Another is that it comes from the French expression, Au gui l'an neuf ("New Year's gift" or "the last day of the year").
Scottish children, often wearing a sheet doubled up in front to form a huge pocket, used to call at the homes of the wealthy on this day and ask for their traditional gift of an oatmeal cake. They would call out, "Hogmanay!" and recite traditional rhymes or sing songs in return for which they'd be given their cakes to take home. It is for this reason that December 31 was also referred to as Cake Day .
Today Hogmanay is celebrated much as is New Year's Eve around the rest of the Western world, with street and house parties. Such fire ceremonies as torchlight processions and lighting New Year's fires are popular traditions as well.
See also First-Foot Day

SOURCES:
BkDays-1864, vol. II, p. 788
BkFest-1937, p. 63
BkHolWrld-1986, Dec 31
DictDays-1988, pp. 56, 81, 84
DictFolkMyth-1984, pp. 181, 499, 791
EncyChristmas-2003, p. 328
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 779
OxYear-1999, p. 541

Celebration day: Dec 31