There's a deep Celtic spirit behind all the fun you'll find at New Year's in Scotland.

It was all about clearing out the old spirits.

I'm bringing in the new, and so a lot of the celebrations associated with Hogmaney are involved fire.

Come along as we hear about the biggest New Year celebration in the world, and one of the oddest.

Most of us are watching the ball drop in Times Square, but there is a small community in North Carolina that's watching a giant pigled drop.

A sommelier from Paris helps us with the wine.

So I think we have a tendency to serve red wine a bit too warm, and a friend from Rome takes us to drink in the atmosphere at her favorite fountains in the eternal city.

Water for me is the soundtrack of a city.

If I had to associate one sound with my city, it would be the trickling of the water in the fountains.

We'll bring the party to you as we anticipate a better year ahead.

Stay with us. It's travel with Rick Steves.

Thank you very much.

What do you like to eat or drink to welcome in the New Year?

Sessily Wong from Atlas Obscura delves into the special things people around the world consume to guarantee a good year ahead.

That's coming up on today's travel with Rick Steves.

We'll also be joined by a sommelier from Paris to help us appreciate all that goes into making and enjoying fine wine.

We'll leave you a menu as tips for finding a good bargain and the best ways to serve and impress your friends.

And as the calendar changes, the eternal city is calling.

We'll look at the history and beauty that's reflected in the waters of Rome, where extravagant fountains tap into Rome's civic engineering and an incredible past.

New Year's is such a big deal in Scotland. They've even given it a special name, Hogmani.

They dance in the streets of Edinburgh for four days.

As we anticipate a much better year ahead of us, we're joined by Scottish tour guides, Lizzlister, and Cullen mayors for a look at the New Year's traditions you'll find in the land of all-dlang Zine.

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