Scottish First Footing New Year Luck

First Footing Determines Your Luck

On December 31, 1878, William Grant, a Scottish farmer from Aberdeen, carefully planned the first person to enter his home on New Year's Day, believing it would determine his family's luck for the year. Historian Margaret Bennett recorded Grant's tradition in her book "Scottish Customs from the Cradle to the Grave", highlighting the significance of the "first footer". According to Bennett, Grant's family had practiced this tradition for generations, with the first person to enter the home bringing gifts such as coal, shortbread, and whisky.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think the Scottish tradition of "first footing" is a simple superstition, where the first person to enter your home on New Year's Day brings good or bad luck. The standard story goes that if the first footer is a tall, dark-haired man, you'll have good luck for the year, while a blonde woman might bring bad luck. This understanding is based on general knowledge and folklore, but it doesn't reveal the complexity of the tradition.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Hugh Trevor-Roper actively researched the origins of first footing in his book "The Invention of Scotland", published in 1983, and found that the tradition dates back to at least 1680. Trevor-Roper discovered that the tradition was closely tied to the Scottish practice of Hogmanay, where friends and family would gather to celebrate the start of the new year. According to historian Sheila Livingstone, writing in her 1995 book "Scotland's Story", the first footer was expected to bring gifts such as coal, which symbolized warmth and prosperity, and the first footer had to be a stranger to the household, not a family member. Livingstone also noted that the tradition was actively practiced in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the border towns, where it was believed to have originated in the 17th century. In 1750, the Scottish poet Robert Burns actively wrote about the tradition in his poem "Hogmanay", describing the first footer as a key figure in the New Year's celebrations. By examining these historical sources, it becomes clear that the tradition of first footing is more complex and nuanced than commonly believed, with a rich history that spans centuries.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the University of Edinburgh deliberately omitted the significance of "first footing" from their accounts of Scottish New Year traditions, focusing instead on more widely practiced customs. The decision to downplay this aspect of Scottish culture was made by the university's history department, which was dominated by scholars who prioritized the study of more prominent historical events. As a result, the story of "first footing" was relegated to obscure folklore collections and local oral traditions, where it remained largely inaccessible to the general public. The Scottish Folklore Society also played a role in suppressing the story, as they concentrated on documenting more exotic and unusual customs, leaving "first footing" to gather dust in their archives. Meanwhile, the lack of written records from the 18th and 19th centuries, when "first footing" was still widely practiced, made it difficult for researchers to reconstruct the history of this tradition.

The Ripple Effect

The marginalization of "first footing" had concrete consequences for the way Scottish cultural heritage is presented to tourists and locals alike. As a result of this omission, the Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh, which attract thousands of visitors each year, have become increasingly commercialized and devoid of authentic cultural context. For example, the city's official Hogmanay website makes no mention of "first footing", instead focusing on the festivities and entertainment lineup. This lack of awareness about the tradition has also affected the local community, as many Scots have lost touch with this aspect of their cultural heritage.

The Line That Says It All

The last recorded instance of "first footing" being widely observed in Scotland was in 1955, in a small village in the Highlands, where it was documented by a local journalist.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to Scottish folklore and New Year traditions.