The traditional Scottish New Year's Eve custom of visiting homes after midnight is called first-footing.
A first-footer is the first person to enter a household after midnight on New Year's Day. In traditional belief, that person's arrival could influence the household's luck for the coming year. The custom is particularly associated with Scotland and with Hogmanay celebrations.
Traditional gifts carried by a first-footer may include food, drink, coal, salt, or other useful household items. In some versions, a tall, dark-haired man was considered especially lucky, although customs differ by region and family. Modern celebrations often treat the practice as a social ritual rather than a strict rule.
First-footing is related to the idea of welcoming the new year into the home, but it is not the same as a general New Year's visit made at any time. The defining detail is that the visitor is the first to cross the threshold after midnight.