In Scottish Hogmanay tradition, the custom of being the first visitor after midnight is called first-footing.
A first-foot is the first person to enter a household after midnight on New Year's Day. Traditional folklore held that the visitor could influence the household's luck for the coming year. Customs varied by region and family, but the first-foot often brought symbolic gifts such as coal for warmth, shortbread or other food, salt, and whisky. A tall, dark-haired man was traditionally considered especially lucky in some parts of Scotland.
Hogmanay is Scotland's name for New Year's celebrations, and first-footing is only one part of it. Other traditions include singing “Auld Lang Syne,” torchlight processions, bonfires, and public street parties. The first-foot custom is sometimes described as an ancient Celtic practice, but its detailed form developed through a mixture of Scottish folklore and later customs.
Modern celebrations may treat first-footing as a friendly visit rather than a strict omen, but the name remains widely associated with Scottish New Year.