First-footing is the Scottish New Year's Eve tradition involving the first person entering a home after midnight.
The first-foot is traditionally expected to bring good fortune to the household for the coming year. In some customs, a tall, dark-haired man was considered especially lucky, although practices differ by family and region.
Typical gifts include coal for warmth, bread or shortbread for food, salt, a silver coin, and whisky for hospitality. The visitor may enter after the household has welcomed the new year and is often treated as a guest rather than merely passing through.
First-footing is closely associated with Hogmanay, Scotland's New Year's celebration. It is not the same as a ceilidh, which is a social gathering featuring traditional music and dancing, or a torchlight procession, which is a public event held in some Scottish cities.