Scotland's New Year's Eve street celebrations in Edinburgh have been canceled due to a storm warning, while New Year's fireworks in London may also be canceled due to winds forecast to exceed 18 mph.
"I know many, like myself, will be very disappointed, this decision has not been made lightly, however, as the difficult weather conditions continue, keeping people safe remains our priority," said Edinburgh City Council leader Jane Mayer.
A severe wind, rain and snow warning issued by the UK Met Office is in place until January 2. The wind is likely to be strongest in Scotland. The weather will be at its worst on December 31 and the warning will extend to northern England, as well as much of Wales. The authorities in Blackpool, North West England, have already announced the cancellation of street celebrations for the New Year.
Hogmanay is a Scottish holiday celebrated from December 30 to January 1 or 2 to mark the New Year. Festivities in Edinburgh attract tens of thousands of tourists every year and are accompanied by fireworks, torchlight processions, fire shows, bonfires and music. After the Reformation and until the middle of the 19th century, a small Christmas was celebrated in Scotland, and many Christmas traditions, including the exchange of gifts, became part of New Year's celebrations. Hogmanay also included several Celtic and Norse pagan customs, especially those involving fire, including burning wheels and rolling them down hills.
