The traditional Scottish New Year's Eve practice of visiting homes after midnight is called first-footing.
A “first-foot” is the first person to enter a household after midnight on New Year’s Eve. In traditional belief, that visitor could influence the household’s luck for the coming year. Customs vary, but a first-footer might bring symbolic gifts such as food, drink, coal, or salt, representing warmth, nourishment, prosperity, and hospitality.
The visitor’s identity and appearance were once considered significant in some regions. Dark-haired men were traditionally favored in parts of Scotland, although modern celebrations are generally less strict and focus on friendship and welcoming guests.
First-footing is related to Hogmanay but is not another name for it. Hogmanay refers broadly to Scotland’s New Year celebration, while first-footing describes a particular social custom within or alongside those celebrations. The practice also resembles threshold and first-visitor traditions found elsewhere in Europe, but its Scottish association is especially strong.