First-footing is the Hogmanay custom of welcoming the first visitor after midnight.
In Scotland, the first-foot is traditionally the first person to enter a household after midnight on New Year's Eve. The visitor may bring symbolic gifts such as coal for warmth, shortbread for food, salt for prosperity, or whisky for hospitality. Traditions vary between regions and families, and the visitor's appearance or characteristics have historically been considered relevant in some communities.
The custom is connected with ideas of luck for the household's coming year. The first-foot may be a friend or neighbor who deliberately waits outside until midnight, then crosses the threshold. In other cases, the arrival is spontaneous.
First-footing is different from Edinburgh's Torchlight Procession, a separate Hogmanay event held before New Year's Eve. It is also not a formal requirement of every Scottish celebration. The term refers specifically to the first visitor and the beliefs attached to that arrival.