Edinburgh, Scotland
The Fest: New Year's in Scotland is called Hogmanay, and the biggest party is in Edinburgh, when crowds of 100,000 jam the Old Town, and midnight fireworks flicker over Edinburgh Castle. What Makes It Special: The Scots take their play seriously: The party starts on the 29th with a torchlight procession and buzzes through to a very fuzzy January 1. The Crowd: Exuberant, stumbling, and given to bear-hugs and impromptu jigs. The Garb: It might be cold, but men in kilts are not a myth—nor is the Scottish style of foregoing undergarments. The Libation: Big beers and wee drams of whisky. Ideal For: Those looking for a brash celebration in a classic European city. The Next Day: Finds visitors treating hangovers with a full Scottish breakfast: eggs, kippers, black pudding and haggis. More Info: www.edinburghshogmanay.org