Hogmanay’s traditional “first-footing” custom is practiced in Scotland. The first-foot is the first person to enter a home after midnight on New Year’s Eve, and that visitor is traditionally expected to bring good luck for the coming year.
Traditional gifts can include coal for warmth, shortbread for food, salt, silver, or whisky. In some accounts, a tall, dark-haired male visitor was considered especially lucky, while a fair-haired first-footer could be viewed unfavorably because of historical Viking associations. Modern families often adapt the custom without preserving every older superstition.
The practice is related to the broader Scottish Hogmanay holiday rather than being a separate calendar system. Friends and relatives may deliberately arrange who will make the first visit, turning the custom into a social ritual. First-footing is also known in parts of northern England, but it is especially identified with Scottish New Year celebrations.