The traditional Scottish custom of welcoming the first person into a home after midnight is called first-footing.
In this custom, the first person to cross the threshold after midnight is known as the first-footer. The visitor’s arrival is traditionally linked with the household’s luck for the new year, and customs may specify desirable gifts such as whisky, shortbread, coal, salt, or a dark-haired visitor.
Practices differ among families and regions, so there is no single universal checklist. The visitor may bring symbolic warmth, food, prosperity, or good cheer. The custom is especially associated with Scotland’s Hogmanay celebrations.
First-footing is not the same as Hogmanay itself. Hogmanay is the broader Scottish New Year celebration, while first-footing is one traditional practice within the season. The term is also sometimes written as “first footing,” without the hyphen.