First Footing

When I was engaged to my late husband our neighbours asked my parents if my fiance could first foot them. My parents had a list of requests and future husband was sent round the doors clutching a bottle of Whisky, cake, and coal.
Poor darling hadn't a clue.
My father took him to each door, instructing him on what was expected. He had the most tremendous welcome and forged long term friendships.
Just shows you what being tall and black in Scotland was like in the 70s.

My father was very dark and so was asked to first foot all the neighbours...once we moved out of the East End to Essex that all stopped.

We are going first footing with our neighbours tonight, as we have done for the last twenty five years.
I have to go in last, as I have red hair!

That's what I remember too PECS another old tradition has almost died out now.

We always sent someone outside just before midnight with a piece of coal for warmth, bread for food and a shiny coin for good fortune. If the first person in the house was carrying these it ensured a good new year!

Sorry about the extra alive.

In Lidl today I noticed you were invited to take some coal. (Bags and coal provided free) and I thought what a lovely gesture.
In the past when first footing was the norm everyone would have had access to coal. By doing this they are keeping alive a Scottish tradition alive.
Well done Lidl. Lang may yer lum reek!

the sing and dance thing was Halloween with us

It was an adult thing as far as I remember ,
first foot was the first person over the doorstep after midnight , had to be dark haired and bearing gifts of bread/cake , coal , and alcohol , bread was put on the table , coal on the fire and booze was drunk .
If one was male and dark it involved a lot of visiting and drinking

I only did it as a child obviously living at home with my parents and going out with my friends locally. We had to sing and/or dance- in my case dance before we were given orange juice or whatever. We knew everybody so there were no security issues in those days.

I have never done it as an adult in Scotland and certainly not in London.