First Foot
Netizens
"First footing" is a well known Scottish tradition of Hogmanay which is celebrated after the sound of the bells. Hogmanay originally meant a type of three cornered oat biscuit and probably relates to the custom of taking food to others abodes. Today we celebrate Hogmanay on New Year's Eve but in the past the Celtic New Year was held on the 1st November. This was called Samhain. Samhain was the great gathering of the clans which was celebrated throughour Europe. If you watched The Highlander film or TV series you will of heard of the Great Gathering. Well there was such an event and it took place in the mid winter. Samhain was celebrated on three levels. It was a time of plenty as the harvast was collected and thelive stock were returned from the hills before the severe winter ahead; it was a time of great kinship, as the hill dwellers came to the gathering; and Samhain was the time of year when the darkness of night prevailed over the lightness of the day. According to Celtic myth Lugh, the Sun God was defeated by his dark side and become the Lord of Misrule. Good folk needed the comfort of their own kind and protection from the evil forces of the dark. The Mid winter festival predated Christianity and was called the Festival of the Dead. Much of the symbolism of Samhain can still be found between today's Halloween and Hogmanay. In pre-Christian times, Samhain was an unreal time, when one year turned into another. A twilight zone where the spirits of the dead and those not yet born, walked freely among the living. Even with the introduction of Christianity, the occult association has never been lost, e.g. Halloween or the beginning of the Festival of the Dead and Hogmanay. The end of the Festival is the beginning of the New Year.
Many cultures still believed meeting a stranger (the first fit) brought luck and the Celtic custom of "first footing" is European in origin and not exclusive to Scotland. The tradition demands the first person to pass the threshold of the house in the New Year must be a sonsy (trustworthy), stranger of dark complexion, carrying a cake called a black bun. This maybe where the term Hogmanany comes from. The stranger must also bring a drink called a "wassail" or hot toddy. The cake and drink represent food and sustenance for the coming year. In some parts the First Foot will bring a piece of coal for the fire which symbolised good luck and prosperity for the coming year. The old Scot's phrase of "Lang may yer lum (chimney) reek (smoke)" is a well wish and would have practical worth as January and February are usually the coldest months of the winter.
To be the perfect first foot, you need high arched feet (where water can run freely under them). Reference to the running water relates to the old superstition that evil spirits cannot cross over running water (stream). While in the Scot's mode you may like to read Robert Burns' poem, Tam O'Shanter
Flat feet at Christmas and New Year were considered very unlucky. High arched feet became associated with Godlyness in early Christianity but pagans (country people) were always suspicious of flat feet. This might relate to disease or deformity which was viewed as demonic possession. In the Isle of Man, a small island between Ireland and England, the perfect first footer was a dark haired man of good appearance with insteps high enough to allow a mouse to run through them. Tradional belief states it is very unlucky to have a person with fair complexion (or buddy) first foot the home.
First footing is still practiced in Scotland and Ireland and other Celtic cultures. After hearing of the bells in the open air (usually the town square) friends visit each others homes sharing goodwill and treating themselves to intoxicating liquor. This may go on all night and well into the following day. Some folk were so superstitious they would not cross the threshold of their home until they have been first fitted. Villagers and towns folk systematically first footed all the inhabitants so the community were ready to meet the New Year, ahead. It is very bad luck to ignore a first footer even although you would rather sleep.
In Scotland families gather on Ner’day (New Year‘s Day) and feast like the traditional Christmas Day and represents the modern “gathering of the clans.” Hogmanay is not celebrated as much in the cities now but still remains a strong tradition in rural communities.
Ironically the song Auld Land Syne , a tradional air given lyrics by Scottish Poet Robert Burns and published in 1796 was not traditionally sang at Hogmanay until the 20th century after it was played at a New Year celebration in New York. The song and sentiment expressed were perfect and have been associated ever since.
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
Happy New Year.
Cameron
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Cameron Kippen, Podologist and Shoe Historian
Cameron Kippen
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