Its a Scottish Tradition whereby a dark haired male knocks at your door just after midnight at New Year, carrying a lump of coal and is the 'first' to step 'foot' in your house. This is considered good luck and the 'First Footer' is generally given a wee dram to complement him for the warmth he brings with the coal.
In Scotland, this ritual can extend over several days as you 'first foot' your family and friends, which can make it quite an alcoholic time.int:
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