Hogmanay: good times on a smaller scale

Published on Thursday 30 December 2010 17:07

Glasgow The city's Hogmanay for 2010 involves a huge outdoor ceilidh in George Square. But the capacity of the annual celebration has been cut from 10,000 to about half that with a new emphasis on Scottish bands rather than global acts.

Salsa Celtica, Scottish rockers Skerryvore and Celtic music band Capercaillie will perform. Curling is also on offer in the Square's ice rink.

Aberdeen

the Hogmanay Fire Walk at Doonies Farm, in Nigg, marks one of the more unusual events of the New Year. Those prepared to try walking on hot coals as a means of "empowerment and healing" can join a training session before the 5pm walk.

Aberdeen's New Year's fireworks are fired from the roof of His Majesty's Theatre, with favoured vantage points at Union Bridge, Union Terrace, Blackfriars Street and Schoolhill.

Stirling

Stirling Castle's Hogmanay party line-up includes The X-Factor finalist Wagner with headliner the platinum-selling singer/songwriter Darius Campbell. The local Heart of Scotland choir opens the event.

Stonehaven

In the Stonehaven Fire Ceremony about 45 participants parade in the High Street swinging fireballs around their heads in a ritual dating back a century or more.

A webcam in the local clock tower will capture the spectacle for viewers online

Biggar

Every Hogmanay, despite past efforts to dampen down the ceremony, residents of Biggar in South Lanarkshire, set a huge bonfire in a celebration said to date back to the Iron Age.

Orkney

Crowds gather in Kirkwall and Stromness before "the bells" at midnight. The clock of St Magnus Cathedral on the Kirk Green, and the ships' whistles in Stromness Harbour signal the end of the old year and the start of traditional "First Footing" to see in 2011.