The Scottish New Year's custom in which the first person enters a home after midnight is called first-footing.
The “first foot” is the first person to cross a household's threshold after the New Year begins. Traditionally, the visitor brings gifts associated with good fortune and household needs, such as coal for warmth, bread or shortbread for food, salt, whisky, or money. Customs differ by region and family.
In older accounts, a tall, dark-haired man was often considered a lucky first-foot, while a fair-haired visitor could be viewed less favorably because of historical Viking associations. Modern celebrations are generally more inclusive, and the symbolic gifts matter more than the visitor's appearance.
First-footing is related to Hogmanay but is not a synonym for it. Hogmanay names Scotland's wider New Year's celebration, while first-footing identifies one particular household ritual. The practice also varies in whether someone already inside the home leaves and returns, or whether a visitor arrives from elsewhere.