The first person to enter a Scottish home after midnight is called the first-footer.
First-footing is a Scottish New Year custom in which the first visitor entering a household after the new year begins is believed to influence the household’s luck. The visitor traditionally brings gifts such as coal for warmth, shortbread for food, salt, or whisky.
In some traditions, a tall, dark-haired man was considered the luckiest first-footer. This preference has been linked to historical memories of Viking raids, when fair-haired strangers were viewed with suspicion in parts of Britain, although practices and explanations have varied.
The first-footer is not necessarily the person who remained in the house at midnight. The custom specifically concerns the first arrival after midnight. Modern households may adapt it casually, and many families now treat the practice as a symbolic visit rather than a strict rule.