Coal was a traditional first-footing gift symbolizing warmth and fuel in Scotland after New Year's Eve.
First-footing is the custom of being the first person to enter a household after midnight on New Year's Day. In traditional belief, the visitor's arrival could influence the household's luck for the coming year. Coal was useful in winter because it provided fuel for the fire, so carrying it represented warmth and practical prosperity.
Other customary gifts included shortbread, salt, silver, and whisky. In some versions of the tradition, a tall, dark-haired male visitor was considered especially lucky. Modern practice varies widely, and many people treat first-footing as a social custom rather than a literal prediction of fortune. It is one part of Hogmanay, Scotland's broader New Year's celebration.