First Foot What is it?

[whiteravenJr.]

This is a question for all those who know about old Scottish Traditions. I'm reading a biography right now and in it, it mentions Hogmanay and First Foot. I gathered from further reading that Hogmanay was new year but it never really did explain what First Foot was so i was just wonderin if anyone would be able to give me the background of this tradition and what it was or still is. Thank you very much if you can help me with this.

[Caradoc]

This is a question for all those who know about old Scottish Traditions. I'm reading a biography right now and in it, it mentions Hogmanay and First Foot.

Wikipedia

"There are many customs, both national and local, associated with Hogmanay. The most widespread national custom is the practice of first-footing which starts immediately after midnight. This involves being the first person to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour and often involves the giving of symbolic gifts such as salt (less common today), coal, shortbread, whisky, and black bun (a fruit pudding) intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder. Food and drink (as the gifts, and often Flies Cemetery ) are then given to the guests. This may go on throughout the early hours of the morning and well into the next day. The first-foot is supposed to set the luck for the rest of the year, so it is important that a suitable person does the job. A tall, handsome, and dark-haired man bearing a gift is strongly preferred. According to popular folklore, a man with dark hair was welcomed because he was assumed to be a fellow Scotsman; a blonde or red haired stranger was assumed to be an unwelcome Norseman."

[Southern Breeze]

I'll post this to start things off: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-Foot

[Mike1]

Some of the customs of Hogmanay are actually quite interesting. The Stonehaven fireball swingers being just one.

It is my understanding that the practice of 'first-footing' could once go on 'til the wee hours of dawn, but that has now become the exception rather than the rule.

[Pour1Malt]

Caradoc covered it quite weel....

jus dinnae confeese Hogmany w/ New Years Day- we celebrate baith seperately an differently...

roon here many folk go oot First Footin' on New Years... we carry a lump o' coll fur yur lum...("Lang may yur lum reek") and a bottle o whisky... each pairson in the hoose must hae a wee dram fraim every First Foot bottle befaire the First Footers move oan tae the next hoose....

[whiteravenJr.]

Thank you very much for letting me in on this tradition i had just one more question about it. Is it still praticed today in Scotland? well thanks again

[Mike1]

Yes, in some areas first-footing is practiced more than in others, but Hogmanay and New Year's Day are both celebrated heartily, throughout all Scotland.

P1M, as in 'lang may yer lum reek wey ower fowks coal'?

[Pour1Malt]

Thank you very much for letting me in on this tradition i had just one more question about it. Is it still praticed today in Scotland? well thanks again

aye- thot tis lad.... an many folk come tae Scotlan tae tak part....

[Pour1Malt]

Yes, in some areas first-footing is practiced more than in others, but Hogmanay and New Year's Day are both celebrated heartily, throughout all Scotland.

P1M, as in 'lang may yer lum reek wey ower fowks coal'?

weel noo, ai never heard "wey ower fowks coal" added oan... but aye- ya ken....

[BonnieT100]

When I lived in Oxfordshire, our English friends - originally from Liverpool - would do the first footing. He carried a silver try with a lump of coal, a pound sterling coin, and I think a piece of bread. He was then given a glass of sherry. It always took place within a couple seconds after midnight. I can remember him knocking on the door and his wife saying it was too early.