Good fortune for 2018 with your 'First Foot’.

The first-foot or 'first-footing' is a typical tradition most common in Scotland and Northern England.

The first-foot is the first person to enter a home on New Years Day (January 1st) and is believed to be a bringer of good fortune for the coming year, however, there are regional and international variations of the tradition.

On the stroke of midnight people open the door to 'let the old year out' and ask a dark-haired male to come through the door carrying a range of items usually including salt, coal and bread.

The salt, coal and bread signify food, money and warmth.

In order to be a true first foot you cannot be in the house at midnight - In my family our first-footer leaves at 11:55pm and is greeted back into the home just after midnight.

It is said for the first-foot to be a tall, dark-haired male as a female or fair-haired male are regarded as unlucky in some places.

The myth of fair-haired people being unlucky comes from the past common belief that blond strangers on your door-step meant Viking invaders.

Scottish people believe that strangers tend to bring more luck.

Fun fact: In Worcestershire, England, luck is ensured by stopping the first carol singer who appears and leading him through the house.

As for international variation, there is a similar tradition in Greece named 'Pothariko'.

It is believed that the first person to enter the house on New Year's Eve brings either good luck or bad luck which results in many households specially selecting who enters first into their homes.

Vietnam also carry out the tradition of first-footing or 'xong dat'. They believe that the first person to enter the house will dictate the families fortune in the coming year. The first visitor hands out 'li xi' or lucky money but they only stay for a few minutes.

Happy New Year! ☺