The New Year's Eve tradition of first-footing traditionally celebrates good luck in a Scottish household.
First-footing is the practice of being the first person to enter a home after midnight on New Year's Eve, or Hogmanay. The visitor is traditionally expected to bring symbolic gifts and favorable fortune for the year ahead. Common gifts include coal for warmth, salt, shortbread, and whisky.
In some versions of the custom, a tall, dark-haired man is considered especially lucky as the first visitor. This preference is often linked to historical memories of Viking raids, when a fair-haired stranger at the door might have been viewed with suspicion. The detail varies, however, and modern households frequently interpret first-footing more casually.
The visitor may step outside before midnight and return after the bells, although practices differ. First-footing is one part of Hogmanay, not the name of the entire Scottish New Year's Eve celebration. Its central idea is welcoming prosperity and companionship into the home.