The New Year's Eve tradition of first-footing is especially associated with Scotland. A first-footer is the first person to enter a home after midnight, and tradition holds that this visitor can affect the household's luck for the coming year.
Historically, the preferred first-footer was often a tall, dark-haired man. Typical gifts included coal for warmth, bread or shortbread for food, salt, and whisky for hospitality, although modern practices vary considerably.
The custom is part of Scotland's wider Hogmanay traditions. In some families, the visitor waits outside until after midnight, then crosses the threshold bearing a symbolic gift and offering good wishes.
First-footing is a folk custom rather than a universally observed rule. Different communities have changed details over time, and many people now treat it as a social tradition without believing that a visitor determines the household's fortune.