Traditionally, the peat fire is made to blaze brightly as midnight approaches. In former times, it was also customary to have the house cleaned thoroughly to welcome the New Year. Today, the main surviving custom is that of 'first-footing' - the first person over the threshold of the house after midnight should ideally be a dark and handsome man, bearing gifts. A variety of symbolic gifts may be carried such as a small piece of coal, or here in the Highlands, a chunk of peat. These gifts symbolise warmth. A bottle of whisky and some shortbread are welcome gifts too - symbols of drink and food.

Much of the partying goes on indoors - Hogmanay is the one night of the year when having friends and neighbours call after midnight is normal and welcome! There are street parties in many towns together with fireworks, pipe bands and a lone piper to pipe in the seconds to midnight. Communities have traditional meeting places around town centres. Hotels and village halls organise special Hogmanay ceilidhs, dinners, dances, grand balls and discos to see in the New Year.