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| Hogmanay celebrations: Scotland gears up for new year party | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Tens of thousands of people are preparing to descend on the streets of Edinburgh for the Scottish capital's world-famous Hogmanay celebrations. | |
| The street party is expected to see some 80,000 revellers welcome in 2013 with a spectacular firework display from the castle ramparts. | |
| Scottish rock band Simple Minds will headline the Concert in the Gardens, alongside The View and Bwani Junction. | |
| Smaller events will take place in towns and cities across the country. | |
| Celebrations got under way in Edinburgh on Sunday with a torchlight procession. | |
| A record crowd estimated at 35,000, including 7,000 torch carriers, was led on the procession by the massed pipes and drums and the Up Helly Aa' Vikings from Shetland. | |
| The procession made its way through the city streets to the burning of the effigy of a Viking boat and a spectacular Son et Lumiere display on Calton Hill. | The procession made its way through the city streets to the burning of the effigy of a Viking boat and a spectacular Son et Lumiere display on Calton Hill. |
| Pete Irvine, artistic director of Edinburgh's Hogmanay said: "It's great to start the three days of Edinburgh's Hogmanay with such a fantastic crowd for the torchlight procession. | Pete Irvine, artistic director of Edinburgh's Hogmanay said: "It's great to start the three days of Edinburgh's Hogmanay with such a fantastic crowd for the torchlight procession. |
| "We like to think that Edinburgh's Hogmanay puts Edinburgh once again in the centre of the world map, and that the experiences that you will enjoy here are because you are in a beautiful city and in the best possible company - the famously friendly Scots." | "We like to think that Edinburgh's Hogmanay puts Edinburgh once again in the centre of the world map, and that the experiences that you will enjoy here are because you are in a beautiful city and in the best possible company - the famously friendly Scots." |
| There will be five live stages for the Hogmanay celebrations, with countdown fireworks at 21:00, 22:00 and 23:00, as well as the midnight display from the ramparts of the castle. | |
| Events will also take place on New Year's Day, including sled dog races at Holyrood Park and a triathlon which will see competitors swim 400 metres of the Royal Commonwealth Pool, cycle 11 miles around Arthur's Seat and then run 3.5 miles. | Events will also take place on New Year's Day, including sled dog races at Holyrood Park and a triathlon which will see competitors swim 400 metres of the Royal Commonwealth Pool, cycle 11 miles around Arthur's Seat and then run 3.5 miles. |
| The Loony Dook, the annual dip in the cold waters of the River Forth at South Queensferry, will also be held. | |
| Forecasters said that, after a wet and windy couple of days, the weather was looking better for Hogmanay. | |
| Graeme Forrester, public weather service adviser for the Met Office, said: "There will be a fresh to strong west to north west wind with rain affecting the Edinburgh area on Monday morning clearing away to give generally dry weather with lighter winds over the bells and temperatures staying above freezing at 2 or 3C. | Graeme Forrester, public weather service adviser for the Met Office, said: "There will be a fresh to strong west to north west wind with rain affecting the Edinburgh area on Monday morning clearing away to give generally dry weather with lighter winds over the bells and temperatures staying above freezing at 2 or 3C. |
| "As always revellers should dress for the conditions and wrap up warm." | "As always revellers should dress for the conditions and wrap up warm." |
| Elsewhere, Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire is expected to host its traditional fireball display despite the floods that hit the town over the past fortnight. | |
| A sell-out crowd of more than 20,000 people will congregate for the Open Air in the town's historic Market Square, which will also feature music by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Blazin' Fiddles. | |
| Revellers in Aberdeen will bring in the new year with a fireworks display at His Majesty's Theatre, while the Proclaimers will headline a Hogmanay concert on the esplanade of Stirling Castle. | |
| But for the second year in a row, there will be no official celebrations at midnight in Glasgow - with the city's Glasgow loves Hogmanay event in George Square running from noon until 22:00. | |
| How are you marking Hogmanay? Send us your experiences using the form below. | How are you marking Hogmanay? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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