First Footing

Bitter sweet memories

My gran's dark haired BiL First Footed (as children we spent the holiday with maternal grandparents) the rest of family was either blond or red headed.

My gran or mt mum opened the windows to let the Old Year out and the door to let the New Year in (if awake and at home I still do this).

When I was very young we would hear the ships hooters on the River Clyde.

Now in village where we live the church bell rings out but unfortunately it's drowned out by the noise of the fire works.

We do it religiously following the way my Scottish parents and grandparents did it. It doesn’t have to be just after midnight as some think, it’s just the first foot over the threshold in the New Year so for us it’s New Years Morning.

DH goes out the back door bearing a tray with money, food, drink and something to indicate warmth eg a box of matches, a piece of coal. He then knocks on the front door and must be welcomed inside.

Oh and salt

We used to do it in South London when I was a child. A tall dark man with a lump of coal was let in on the stroke of midnight. Then we all went out and banged the dustbin lids!! and did the conga round the front garden and back in again. Ah my Auntie held great parties. She invited all the neighbours, no one minded.

We always did this when I was a child and still do if my son is home at new year. It's supposed to be a dark haired stranger but he is dark haired at least. He goes out at the back and brings in the new year by the front door with food, matches and a silver coin to ensure the year brings food, warmth and prosperity

My Nan was big on first footing (Londoner) I still have a piece of coal in my button box of hers. When we were kids we would go out in the garden at midnight where we could hear the boats at the docks sounding their horns. Lovely memories. Happy New Year to all ?

After my Dad died I once 'first footed' my Mum. When she opened the door I apologised for being a big fat blonde instead of tall dark and handsome. She responded, 'but you're not really blonde are you dear?' Don't know why I bothered!!

Nothing stirred in our road last night.

First footing was common where I grew up, (W. Highlands of Scotland) and we would ceilidh 'til dawn. The breathalyser stopped that.

First footing used to be a Northern thing ( as well as Scottish) and would always be done when I was a child.
Obviously things change, so it may not still be done there now.
Not everyone now has a lumb to reek we do, but use logs not coal.I thought coal fires were banned to be honest and had been for some time?
Happy New Year to all.?

My dog has just done a sort of canine first foot by coming in through the dog flap for the first time ever ?? He brought with him a wet nose, a waggy tail and a soggy stick from the garden ?