EDINBURGH'S Hogmanay celebrations will be a love letter to Europe.

The three day festival surrounding the traditional ringing in of the New Year this will this year focus on Scotland's place in the world, and specifically Europe.

Underbelly, the major Fringe producers who are also organisers of the event, which runs from 30 December to January 1, say that the planned events are not political, or deliberately anti-Brexit, but were arranged to acknowledge that 2019 will be pivotal year for the UK and Scotland's relationship with the continent.

Underbelly said in a statement: "Although 1 January 2019 marks the start of the year in which Scotland may leave the EU, we remain part of Europe and so Hogmanay 19 will be a celebration of our continental ties and our shared history and culture....2019 is the time for us to celebrate our ties with Europe and ask the world to say – We love you."

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However, despite the very public love for Europe being the theme of the events, the organisers say it is not taking sides in ongoing Brexit debate.

In the Brexit vote, the majority of Scottish voters voted to stay in the EU.

Charlie Wood, one of the directors of Underbelly, said: "Scotland is part of Europe: whether you want to leave or stay in the EU that remains a fact.

"We could be leaving the EU, but that's not leaving Europe, and that is what we are saying here.

"It is not a political point, and we think you can celebrate being part of Europe regardless of your political views about Brexit."

Last year, 160,000 people took part in the Hogmanay festival.

Changes to this year's festival, the second Hogmanay event run by Underbelly, will see the McEwan Hall use as a venue for concerts, including a symphonic take on Ibiza club music on December 30, and Capercaillie and Carlos Nunez on 1 January.

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The concert in the Princes Street Gardens will feature Franz Ferdinand.

As last year, the torchlight procession will run to Holyrood park.

This year the midnight fireworks will be soundtracked by the German "techno marching band" Meute.

Part of the European themed event is Message from the Skies, which has commissioned six writers - William Letford, Chitra Ramaswamy, Kapka Kassabova, Louise Welsh, Stef Smith and William Dalrymple - to each write a "love letter to Europe."

These works will be projected onto buildings throughout January.

The 'We Love You' events will include a giant burning heart at the end of the torchlight procession.

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This procession will head down the Royal Mile, around Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament before culminating at Holyrood Park.

Marking the end of the officially designated Year of Young People 2018, young pipe and drum bands will lead the procession.

A series of wicker sculptures will form a heart, which will be set alight.

The Candlelit Concert in St Giles’ Cathedral returns on the 30 December.

The concert will be accompanied by the St Giles' Cathedral Choir, directed by Michael Harris, with the St Giles' Camerata, leader Angus Ramsay, joined by soloists.

At the McEwan Hall, Symphonic Ibiza will combine a 15 piece orchestra with club DJ Andy Joyce.

The Street Party will be hosted by Johnnie Walker, and will start at 7.30pm on Hogmanay.

It will also see Compagnie Transe Express, a troupe of French performance artistes, as well as Compagnie Des Quidams who will "lead a herd of beautiful larger than life glowing white horses to wind their way along the Princes Street."

The Loony Dook, at South Queensferry, will take place on January 1, with over 1000 people expected to take part.

In a statement, Mr Wood and Ed Bartlam, directors, said: "Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is all about inviting the world to come on in and celebrate the end of one year and the start of a new and as we move from 2018 to 2019, there’s no better time to celebrate Scotland’s cultural ties with Europe."

Councillor Donald Wilson, culture convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is the place to be to bring in the bells and with a strong Scottish line-up, it’s going to be one of our best celebrations yet.

“Kicking off the festivities, the Torchlight Procession will this year create a spectacular outline of Scotland using hundreds of flaming torches - symbolising Edinburgh and the nation’s place in the world as we blaze a trail towards 2019.

"On New Year’s Eve, Franz Ferdinand will headline the world-famous Concert in the Gardens, while a packed programme of live pop, rock, and ceilidh will entertain the Street Party as acrobats liven up the skies above.

"Meanwhile, we’ll welcome the return of the popular Bairns Afore concert and Message from the Skies, and of course the much-loved Loony Dook in the Firth of Forth – the iciest dip you’ll ever have but the best way to blow away the cobwebs."