Scottish Christmas Traditions (& Merry Christmas!)

[Scotland Forever]

Firstfooters. In Scotland, it was, and still is, the custom for a stranger to enter the house after midnight on New Year's Eve. There were taboos about the luck such a stranger would bring, especially in the days of hospitality to traveling strangers. A fair-haired visitor was considered bad luck in most areas, partly due to fighting between the dark Scots and the fair Norse invaders. However, in Christian times a fair-haired man was considered very lucky providing his name was Andrew (because St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland). The firstfooter must make an offering, or handsel. The offering can be food, drink or fuel for the fire. Rituals which have evolved from this custom are many. An offering of food or drink must be accepted by sharing it with everyone present, including the visitor. Fuel must be placed onto the fire by the visitor with the words "A good New Year to one and all and many may you see." In today's fireless society, the fuel is usually presented as a polished piece of coal, or wood, which can be preserved for the year as an ornament.

Participated in First Footin' in 1999/2000 - was the first guest after Midnight @ a cousin's flat in Edinburgh after the big Millennium celebration on Prince's Street. I hadn't seen him since I left Scotland when I was a bairn. He regaled me with stories as we drank and partied the night away.

It's trully a great experience

[BoldHighlander]

Thanks everyone for sharing such great experiences!

Tobus - thanks for the recipe, another now on my "must try" list!

I use to have very dark (almost black) hair as a youth. As I got older it was still a very dark brown, but when the sunlight hit it, it showed red tint (my beard had strong red tints to it). Now, like Steve, the silver-grey is taking over, and my facial hair is silvery, almost white (we grey early on my mom's side of the family), so I'm afraid I wouldn't qualify as a firstfooter anymore