In Scotland’s Hogmanay tradition, the first person to enter a home after midnight is called the first-footer.
First-footing is a New Year custom in which the first visitor to cross a household’s threshold after midnight is thought to influence the family’s fortune for the coming year. Traditionally, a tall, dark-haired man was considered especially lucky in some parts of Scotland, although practices vary by region and household.
The visitor commonly brings symbolic gifts. Coal represents warmth, shortbread or another food represents hospitality, and whisky represents good cheer. The visitor may also bring salt or a silver coin. These customs reflect older ideas about welcoming prosperity and ensuring that the home has essential supplies at the start of the year.
The term can describe both the person and the act of making the first visit. It should not be confused with Hogmanay itself, which is the Scottish celebration of New Year’s Eve and the New Year period.