Actually, the original meaning of hogmanay referred to a type of cake which people gave as gifts on the day.
Quotehogmanay Sc. and north. Eng.
(ˈhɒgməˈneɪ)
Forms: 7 hogmynae, 8 hagmane, -menai, 8–9 hagmena, -menay, (hagman heigh), hogmanay, (9 hogmena, -menay, -maney, hanganay).
[Of obscure history, noted only from 17th c. App. of French origin: see note below.]
The name given in Scotland (and some parts of the north of England) to the last day of the year, also called ‘Cake-day’; the gift of an oatmeal cake, or the like, which children expect, and in some parts systematically solicit, on that day.
