The Scottish New Year's custom of first visitors bringing symbolic gifts into a home after midnight is called first-footing.
A first-foot is the first person to enter a household after midnight on New Year's Day. Traditional beliefs held that this visitor could influence the household's luck for the year ahead. Common gifts included coal for warmth, shortbread or other food for abundance, salt, and whisky for hospitality.
In some versions of the custom, a tall, dark-haired man was considered especially lucky, while a fair-haired or red-haired visitor could be viewed differently depending on local tradition. These details were never universal, and modern practice varies widely across Scotland.
First-footing is associated with Scotland's Hogmanay season, but it is distinct from the name of the wider New Year's celebration. The custom is also practiced in parts of northern England and has influenced New Year's traditions in communities with Scottish heritage around the world.