The Scottish tradition of welcoming the first visitor after midnight on New Year's Eve is called first-footing.
A first-footer is traditionally the first person to enter a household after midnight. In many versions of the custom, the visitor brings symbolic gifts such as coal for warmth, bread for food, salt, a silver coin, or whisky. The arrival is meant to influence the household’s luck in the coming year.
Traditional descriptions sometimes say that a tall, dark-haired man was considered especially lucky, while a fair-haired visitor could be viewed less favorably. Such ideas are historical elements of folklore, not universal rules followed by modern households.
First-footing is connected with Hogmanay and remains one of the best-known Scottish New Year customs. In practice, people may adapt it into a friendly visit among relatives and neighbors rather than follow every older superstition.