Viking

January 1st is First Foot Day

Who dares enter your home first on New Year’s Day? This is an old Scottish tradition. ‘First Foot’ or ‘First Footing’ comes from the first person to cross the threshold into a home. For good luck the first person to enter your house should be a dark male and should bring with him symbolic pieces of coal, shortbread, salt, black bun and some whisky. This is believed to have come from Viking days when a big blonde stranger arriving on your door step probably with a big axe meant big trouble and probably not a very happy New Year! Now, why is it we like the blonde haired, blue-eyed men anyway?



Today is also known as “First Day” and “New Year’s Day”.