The Hogmanay tradition of first-footing is especially associated with Edinburgh, Scotland.
First-footing is the custom of being the first person to enter a home after midnight on New Year’s Eve. Traditionally, the visitor brings symbolic gifts such as shortbread, salt, coal, or whisky, representing food, flavor, warmth, and good fortune for the household.
In Scottish folklore, a tall, dark-haired first footer was often considered especially lucky. The visitor’s identity and gifts mattered because the first arrival was thought to influence the household’s fortunes during the coming year.
Edinburgh is famous for its large Hogmanay program, including concerts, processions, and street events, but first-footing is a household custom found across Scotland rather than an event confined to the capital. Hogmanay itself is the Scottish celebration of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.