Scotland is the island nation's home of the Hogmanay-style first-footing custom after midnight.
In first-footing, the first person to enter a home after midnight is traditionally believed to influence the household's luck for the new year. A visitor may bring symbolic gifts such as food, drink or coal, reflecting older ideas about prosperity and warmth.
The custom is especially associated with Scotland's Hogmanay celebrations, although related beliefs have existed elsewhere in the British Isles. In some traditions, a tall, dark-haired male visitor was considered especially lucky, but modern practice is more varied.
First-footing is separate from the midnight countdown itself. It happens after midnight, when people visit one another, and should not be confused with the “first foot” time-zone phrase used for places that reach a new day early.