[scouse]

travelling from one house to another

That is known as "First Footing" and the visitor is supposed to carry a piece of coal in his/her pocket.

[Eala]

Correct. It's good luck for the First-Footer (the first to enter the house on the new year), to be a tall, dark(-haired) man, carrying a lump of coal in one hand, a flask of whisky in the other.