At Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebration, the tradition of visiting friends after midnight is called first-footing. The first person to enter a household after midnight is traditionally known as the first foot and is associated with the household's luck for the new year.
First-footing is particularly connected with Scotland's Hogmanay celebrations, although related customs appear elsewhere in Britain. Traditional gifts can include whisky, shortbread, coal, salt, or black bun. These items symbolize warmth, food, hospitality, and prosperity rather than serving as random party favors.
Some traditions consider the first foot's identity significant, with a tall, dark-haired man historically regarded as fortunate in parts of Scotland. Practices differ by region and family, so there is no single uniform visitor or gift required today. Modern celebrations often preserve the name while adapting the ritual to contemporary social visits.
Hogmanay is the Scottish word for New Year's celebrations. First-footing is only one part of it; torchlight processions, concerts, dancing, and singing “Auld Lang Syne” are also associated with Scottish New Year events.