First-Foot

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First-Footing, in British folklore, especially that of the north and Scotland, is the first person who crosses the threshold on New Year's Eve. Good luck is believed to be brought to the house by the First-Foot, and a female First-Foot is regarded with dread. In Lancashire a light-haired man is as unlucky as a woman, and it became a custom for a dark-haired male to be the one and only first-foot. In Worcestershire luck is ensured by stopping the first carol-singer who appears and leading him through the house. In Yorkshire it must always be a male who enters the house first, but his fairness is no objection. The first-foot usually brings a gift of coal and salt. The coal representing "warmth" for the year ahead and the salt representing "flavour". In Scotland first-footing was always more elaborate than in England, involving a subsequent entertainment.

Also in Greek culture, first-foot has a significant place among Christmas customs. Thus, it is believed that the first person to enter the house on New Year's Eve brings either good luck or bad luck. Many households to this day keep this tradition and specially select who enters first into the house. After the first-foot, also called "podariko" from "podi" which means foot, the lady of the house serves the guests with Christmas treats to ensure that good luck will come in the New Year.

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.