By Isla Glen

Every New Year’s Eve I experienced as a child had me glued to Hogmanay Live on the television. I loved Jackie Bird, the bagpipes, the fireworks and beckoning in the next year in with a canon. There was something magical about the entire experience and I desperately wanted to go.

Then, when I was freshly 18, the Coronavirus pandemic struck, and in-person celebrations were cancelled. I was thankful I had made it home to the Borders for Christmas, having not seen my family in almost four months, but I was disappointed that I couldn’t experience Edinburgh Hogmanay in the flesh.

Like always, we watched Hogmanay. It wasn’t live, there was no Jackie Bird and it lacked its usual charm. It felt like the appropriate ending to 2020, but I found myself drawn in by the firework show over the Wallace Monument.

As a Stirling University student, it wasn’t the first time I had seen the Monument brought to life, yet it felt far more special. For me, Hogmanay has always been about family and celebrating together. It was nice to see my other home and my university family represented in the celebrations.

It made me wonder why we don’t showcase more than just Edinburgh. Yes, it’s the capital, but Scotland is more than that.

The countdown itself gives us plenty of Scottish variety, but at midnight I want to see fireworks from key points across the nation. I wish that they would give us smaller shows at Scotland’s eight cities or take it in turns each year.

As public funding lessens for not just Hogmanay, but St Andrew’s Day and Burns Night, it seems unlikely we’ll see the Wallace Monument return to BBC Scotland’s Hogmanay special. To me, this is a tragedy.

The Wallace Monument’s display was far superior to that of Edinburgh’s. Perhaps it was the year on display or maybe I’m just bored of watching the same thing every year, but every single Scottish city, town and village is belting out Auld Lang Syne and celebrating together. We all deserve to be represented in some way.

Covid-19 has changed Hogmanay, but it remains the ultimate New Year celebration. I can’t help but hope that 2023 is rung in with Edinburgh’s canon and fireworks at the Wallace Monument, just like last year.

While I still desperately want to join Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party, this year I’ll be perched in front of the television hoping my wish comes true.