Does Hogmanay come from the Gaelic oge maidne meaning 'new morning' or is it a deformation of the French phrase 'un homme est né' (a man is born)? Nobody knows. But no such puny question of etymology will disrupt the greatest New Year festivities worldwide! Perhaps you were unaware but Edinburgh has greatly outdistanced New York as the city to be in between 29 December and 1 January to see the New Year in with style.

A cocktail of hedonism and fervently defended traditions, Hogmanay can be traced back to pagan cults related to the winter solstice. On this occasion, homes were given a thorough cleaning, debts were honoured and quarrels forgotten. Even today, when the clock strikes twelve midnight, the Scotch uphold the first footing custom. Partying continues all New Year's Day and even on the following day, which is why in Scotland, and only there, 2 January is also a bank holiday.

Edinburgh, built on seven ancient volcanoes and overlooked by a castle where nearly all the history of Scotland has unfurled since the 11th century, is an ideal backdrop for many events, especially at night (see Hogmanay, a brief programme).