First Footing

HAPPY 2012! 

Hope you are enjoying the first day of 2012 and had fun last night welcoming in the new year.  We didn't do a lot of celebrating last night.  We went out to dinner and I had entirely too much to eat (what else is new?).  Then we came back to the house and I took a short nap before we went to a 10:30 movie showing of The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo.  It was very good - very graphic in a lot of scenes but very entertaining.  A llittle trivia for you -  The main character, Rooney Mara, is the great-granddaughter of Art Rooney who is the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers

Have you ever heard of this custom for New Year's?  First Footing?  It is the custom of being the first to cross the threshold of a home in the early hours of New Year's Day.  It was so popular in England and Scotland during the 19th century that the streets were often more crowded between midnight and one o'clock in the morning than they would normally be at midday. If the "First Foot," traditionally a man, was to bring the family luck, he had to arrive with his arms full of cakes, bread, and cheese for everyone to share. He should be dark-haired, not fair, and must not have flat feet. The dark-haired man is supposed to be the bearer of good luck and prosperity.  Today the custom may still be observed in Britain and in scattered areas of the United States.

Actually, several years ago, we were at a New Year's Eve party with mostly people from England.  They made Sonny put on a kilt and go outside with a piece of coal and a drink in his hand.  He then rang the bell and we welcomed him inside.  Don't remember if that was a lucky year for us or not!!

What guest stepped over your threshold first?

Good luck in 2012!