The Scottish New Year's Eve custom in which the first visitor brings luck is called first-footing.
The first-footer is the first person to enter a household after midnight, traditionally carrying symbolic gifts such as food, drink, coal, or salt. The visit is meant to bring prosperity and good fortune to the household during the new year.
Older customs sometimes placed importance on the visitor's appearance or gender, but practices differ by region and period. First-footing is one part of Hogmanay, Scotland's New Year celebration, and should not be confused with ordinary visiting earlier on December 31.