The Scottish New Year's Eve custom in which the first visitor enters a home after midnight is called first-footing.
The first-foot, or first-footer, is traditionally the first person to cross a household's threshold after midnight. In many versions of the custom, the visitor brings gifts such as coal, shortbread, salt, or whisky, representing warmth, food, flavor, and hospitality.
Tradition has often favored a tall, dark-haired male first-footer, although practices vary by region and family. The visitor may also leave through another door rather than returning through the entrance, depending on local custom.
First-footing is part of Scotland's wider Hogmanay celebrations, but the terms are not interchangeable. Hogmanay refers to the Scottish New Year festival itself, while first-footing describes this specific household custom.