The New Year’s celebrations have already begun in Edinburgh as the traditional Hogmanay kicked off with a dazzling torchlight display.
As many as 40,000 people gathered for a procession creating a stunning spectacle as Scotland’s annual festivities bring a close to another year.
Fire has long been associated with the ancient customs of Hogmanay, where hundreds of years ago, people would light bonfires, roll blazing tar barrels down hills and toss torches.
Last night, revellers gathered in Holyrood Park and then formed the shape of two people holding hands with their torches, the symbol of this year’s theme Be Together.
As well as the procession, displays by fire theatre troupes dazzled spectators as their flames lit up the dark Edinburgh night.
The celebrations will continue throughout tomorrow and will culminate with a huge street party, a ceilidh, and a firework display among many other events.
The origins of Hogmanay are unclear but it is believed to originate from Gaelic and Norse traditions.
There are many local customs but one of the most followed is first-footing, where the first person to enter somebody’s home after midnight offers a present and is said to bring good luck for the new year.
Hogmanay has kicked off in Edinburgh as the countdown to New Year began with a stunning firework and firetorch procession
Scotland’s pioneering Celtic fire theatre company, PyroCeltica, and the Harbinger Drum Crew lead Edinburgh’s famous Torchlight Procession down the Royal Mile
Members of the public holding torchlights walked together towards Holyrood Park for the traditional celebrations in the Scottish capital
A member of PyroCeltica poses in front of Edinburgh Castle as the Hogmanay celebrations kicked off the day before New Year’s Eve
Torch bearers assembled to form the outline of two people holding hands, representing friendship, in what is the ‘Be Together’ symbol of this year’s event
A fireworks display also took place signalling the start of the celebrations which will continue throughout New Year’s Eve
The origins of Hogmanay are unclear but it is believed to originate from Gaelic and Norse traditions hundreds of years ago
The celebrations will continue throughout tomorrow and will culminate with a huge street party, a ceilidh, and a firework display among many other events
Tomorrow, Mark Ronson and Rudimental are among the stars performing at the festivities which are among the largest New Year’s celebrations in the world
Fire has long been associated with the ancient customs of Hogmanay, where hundreds of years ago, people would light bonfires, roll blazing tar barrels down hills and toss torches
The celebrations featured professional fire display teams as well as the torchlight procession by members of the public
Many of the performers wore traditional clothing for the fire displays which wowed the thousands of spectators
A bearded fire theatre performer painted his face for the fierce dance which brings an end to the year and the decade
Locals look out to the sea of flickering torches descending on Holyrood Park, creating a stunning visual against the dark night’s sky
There are many local customs but one of the most followed is first-footing, where the first person to enter somebody’s home after midnight offers a present and is said to bring good luck for the new year
The celebrations will continue throughout tomorrow and will culminate with a huge street party, a ceilidh, and a firework display among many other events
Customs vary throughout Scotland, and usually include gift-giving and visiting the homes of friends and neighbours, with special attention given to the first-foot, the first guest of the new year
The Hogmanay custom of singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’, the Scots poem by Robbie Burns, has become common in many countries
Leading the procession from St Giles’ Cathedral down the Royal Mile and into Holyrood Park, was a 40 strong cast from Scotland’s pioneering Celtic Fire Theatre company, PyroCeltica
Highland Warriors showcased a dazzling array of fire skills featuring fire fans, huge flaming claymores and fire staffs
Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, directors of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay said: ‘The Torchlight Procession is Edinburgh’s Hogmanay’s iconic opening event’
The image captured from the air is Scotland’s message of welcome and friendship against the backdrop of its capital city, according to event organisers