The Scottish Hogmanay custom of welcoming the first visitor after midnight is called first-footing.
In this tradition, the first person to enter a home after midnight is the “first foot.” Their arrival is associated with the household's luck for the coming year. Traditional gifts can include coal for warmth, shortbread or other food, salt, and whisky, reflecting wishes for prosperity and hospitality.
The custom became especially associated with Scotland's New Year celebrations, when family and friends visited one another after the midnight transition. In some traditions, a tall, dark-haired man was considered a particularly lucky first foot, although practices differ by region and household.
First-footing is not the same as Scotland's entire Hogmanay celebration. Hogmanay is the broader New Year festival, while first-footing is one custom within it. Modern celebrations may preserve the name while adapting the visitor, gifts, and timing.