First - footing

1.

FIRST - FOOTING

2.

In Scotland and northern England, the custom
of First-Footing in the early hours of
January1st is still kept up with great vigour.
The First Foot comes as soon as possible after
midnight has struck.

3.

Preferably the male visitor would be a young,
handsome, dark-haired, healthy male. A blonde,
a red-haired or a woman are not allowed to
enter the house first as they are supposed to
bring bad luck.

4.

This is because a dark-haired man in ancient times would
have been regarded as a fellow Scotsman, and therefore
to be deemed safe, whereas a fair haired or red headed
man could have been a Viking and therefore potentially a
dangerous enemy.

5.

He brings symbolic gifts of
food or fuel or money as
tokens of prosperity in the
year that has just begun.
Sometimes, instead of these
presents, or in addition to
them, he carries a bunch of
evergreens as a promise of
continuing life. Nothing must
be taken out of the house
before these gifts have been
brought in, nor should any
one go outside until he has
arrived.

6.

He must be admitted
by the front door and,
since he is a luckbringer, he must be
hospitably
entertained with food
and plentiful supplies
of wine or spirits.
Usually, the First Foot greets all within as he
crosses the threshold, and is at once loudly
welcomed in return. In some parts of Scotland,
however, he does not speak until he has laid a
peat or a coal upon the fire.

7.

Используемая литература
1. https://www.yandex.ru/images/
2. http://www.dinternal.com.ua/country-study/new-yearin-britain/
3. http://www.englishelp.ru/component/content/article/267
.html