The traditional first visitor to enter a Scottish home after midnight is called the first-footer.
First-footing is a Hogmanay custom in which the first person to cross a household’s threshold after the new year begins is believed to affect the home’s luck. A traditional first-footer may bring symbolic gifts such as coal for warmth, shortbread or other food for abundance, salt, and whisky for hospitality.
In some versions of the tradition, a tall, dark-haired man is considered especially lucky, while a fair-haired visitor was historically regarded less favorably in parts of Scotland. These older ideas are regional customs rather than universal rules, and modern celebrations are generally more inclusive.
The first-footer is expected to arrive after midnight rather than before it. The custom is closely associated with Hogmanay, Scotland’s New Year celebration, but families and communities observe it in different ways.