What is the Scottish tradition of first footing?

“First footing” (or the “first foot” in the house after midnight) is still common across Scotland. To ensure good luck for the house the first foot should be a dark-haired male, and he should bring with him symbolic pieces of coal, shortbread, salt, black bun and a wee dram of whisky.

What is the Scottish tradition for new year?

The ‘first foot’ is still a very common Scottish New Year tradition. The first-footer is the first person to enter the home of a household on New Year’s Day, any time after midnight, and is seen as a bringer of good fortune for the coming year. To ensure good luck, a first footer should ideally be a dark-haired male.

What should the first visitor to the Scottish house after midnight on new year’s Eve bring to the hosts?

Fair-haired first footers were not particularly welcome after the Viking invasions of ancient times. Traditional gifts include a lump of coal to lovingly place on the host’s fire, along with shortbread, a black bun and whisky to toast to a Happy New Year. These days shortbread and whisky will suffice.

What brings good luck to the house on new year’s morning in Scotland?

According to the Scottish superstition of first-footing, the first person to enter a household in the new year will dictate its fortunes for that year. A “lucky” first-footer is a dark-haired male who arrives bearing a coin, lump of coal, piece of bread and a drink (which would be whisky, in an ideal world).

Why is Hogmanay so big in Scotland?

Long before the arrival of Christianity, the inhabitants of Scotland were celebrating the arrival of the New Year around the time of the winter solstice (the shortest day)…. This meant that the biggest celebration of the year in Scotland was New Year, or Hogmanay! Customs…. in the order you should perform them!

Which country believe in the first footer?

While first footing is predominantly a Scottish Hogmanay tradition, it also used to be carried out in the north of England. A similar tradition also exists in Sweden, where inviting a stranger into your house after midnight is said to bring good luck for the new year.

Why is New Year so big in Scotland?

Why do Scots call new year’s Eve Hogmanay?

Hogmanay is the Scottish name for new year celebrations. Dr Donna Heddle, an expert from the University of the Highlands and Islands, explained: “The name could also come from the Anglo-Saxon ‘haleg monath’ meaning ‘holy month’.” Some say it could come from the Scandinavian ‘hoggo-nott’ meaning ‘yule’.

What do first footers bring into the house?

The first footer will usually come bearing gifts. Traditionally, they would arrive loaded with a coin, bread, salt, a lump of coal, and whisky – gifts representing all the things the new year would hopefully bring, such as prosperity, food, flavour, warmth and good cheer.

What should the first person bring to the Scottish New Year?

The first person must be a dark haired male, young virile, good natured and prosperous. He should not be empty handed and was supposed to bring with him a small gift such as a piece of coal, bread, salt as they were symbols of life.

Who is the first person to enter the house on New Years Day?

(February 2014) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) In Scottish and Northern English folklore, the first-foot ( Scottish Gaelic: ciad-chuairt, Manx: quaaltagh/qualtagh ), is the first person to enter the home of a household on New Year’s Day and is seen as a bringer of good fortune for the coming year.

When do Scots have to leave the house for the New Year?

The first-footer must be out of the house before the clock strikes midnight, then cross the threshold to welcome in the new year, bearing gifts.

What do people do in Scotland on New Year’s Eve?

Contact Me . Any visitors who arrive before the chimes of midnight on New Year’s Eve would have to be violently shooed away to prevent bad luck. At midnight the man of the house would open the back door to let the old year out and then open the front door of the house to let in the new year.