First Footing

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 ?

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.?

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

Nothing stirred in our road last night.

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!!

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 ?

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

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.

Oh and salt

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.

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.

Never seen it or heard of anyone I know doing it and thought that it was purely a Scottish tradition. Really surprised to hear about English people doing it in England - You learn something every day!
Happy New Year to all - I'll be in bed by 10 though as DGS wakes early and he's staying with me tonight ?

I live in Scotland but first footing no longer happens in this area. It must be 15 years since I can last recall it happening.

I remember it from childhood in the NE, and also when we lived near Hull. Husband had dark hair in those days and was always welcomed on New Year's Eve when we knocked at neighbour's houses.

we've all the family arriving soon and we'll put my OH out at 2 minutes to midnight with whisky,shortbread,coal and salt as we've always done then on the first chimes of 12 we'll let him in with a warm hug and a hope for a good 2019 .We'll likely sit until the wee sma hours and its dinner here before everyone heads home tomorrow .Have a Happy .Healthy and prosperous 2019

To be honest, I wish I could do the same, Grammaretto. I'm getting too old for this!!!

We were sent to bed when we were children but I always stayed awake to hear the ships in the harbour hooting to welcome the new year. My tall, dark uncle was always welcome as a first footer with coal and salt in hand. I think my parents were usually at home to welcome all the first footers who went up and down the road, stopping at our door. Everyone in the neighbourhood knew everyone else.

Well I'm a miserable old bat. People do first foot around here (Scotland) and our town will be lively tonight but I'm going to have a quiet drink with DH and go to bed.
Bah humbug!

Oh the thought! Not on the thought!!

Ive lived in London all my life and no one I know does first footing and I’d never seen it done I thought it was a Scottish thing.

On the thought of being in Jamaica right now! Happy warm memories in every sense of the word!

I should add.....
.......as did I when I went to live in the Caribbean.

mcem he had a wonderful time.

Esspee that was quite a initiation for the poor lad. Obviously didn't put him off!

It used to be my dad who'd be first footer with a piece of coal, bread and half a crown. I remember him doing this every year.