How Dark is Your First Foot?

Hogmanay (New Year's Eve in Scotland) was always full of anticipation when I was a lad, in advance of welcoming in the New Year by 'first footing'. We'd gather together until the final stroke of midnight when we'd wish all the resident assembly a "Guid New Year", followed by a tuneless rendering of Auld Land Syne. We'd then attempt to link arms in a circle, rather awkwardly, after crossing then over our chest, and, if all went well, managed to recite the first verse, chorus, and perhaps the final verse of this now world famous Rabbie Burns New Year's anthem, the words of which are set out below (courtesy of Wikipedia and other origins):

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?
    CHORUS:
    For auld lang syne, my dear,
    for auld lang syne,
    we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
    for auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint-stoup!
and surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak' a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
    CHORUS
We twa hae run about the braes,
and pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
sin' auld lang syne.
    CHORUS
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
sin' auld lang syne.
    CHORUS
And here's a hand, my trusty friend!
and gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak' a right gude-willie waught,
for auld lang syne.
    CHORUS:
    For auld lang syne, my dear,
    for auld lang syne, 
    we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
    for auld lang syne.Credited to Robert Burns in today's Broad Scots form, but reportedly amended from an older song.

Then the fun would begin as we'd wind our way on foot or public transport from house to house, neighbours first, then family, then friends, 'first footing' our way around the town.  This would go on for up to two days, as the streets were strewn with revellers, all intent on fighting the usually bitter cold, snow, wind and/or sleet on our merry way (and eventually groggy and circuitous way), fortified by a glass (or more) of beer or a few wee drams of whisky.

Tradition has it that the 'first foot' across the threshold in the New Year should be a tall, dark and handsome male.  I was never the preferred first in the door, as I qualified on none of these three male requisites.  Rumour has it that the welcome dark visitor at the door dates back to the days when the Vikings were raping and pillaging their way across the east coast of Britain, when a tall Norse ginger haired or blond haired, axe wielding, stranger was to be avoided on pain of death.

At this point I should advise that the title pic is not of a typical Viking (would you have guessed?), but was taken in the course of the obligatory Samarai dress-up, during my visit to Osaka Castle some time back.  "Needs must when the devil drives" and the photo portfolio is lacking.

We would never go empty handed and tradition required that gifts were proffered to bring good fortune to the households being 'first footed'. Hence we'd often carry shortbread, a lump of coal, and some alcoholic sustenance (often from a careful clutched bottle of whisky) for both the host and visitor.  Incidentally don't ask me why the lump of coal, other than the obvious fuel for the coal fire which most houses had back in those days. Perhaps this dates back to the late sixteenth century, when Christmas festivities were discouraged by the majority Presbyterian Church of Scotland as being a papal associated overly elaborate conspiracy?   Hogmanay and the bringing in of the New Year then had a greatly increased importance (compared to Christmas) for a few hundred years, bolstered by pagan tradition, when fire and fireworks were considered essential to ward off evil spirits. 

Just to complete this image of pagan fire and festivities, the town of Stonehaven, located south of Aberdeen, my city of birth, in north-east Scotland, reportedly still hosts a spectacular display of fire at New Year's Eve, when giant fireballs on long metal poles are swung around the heads of worthy young males, as they parade down the main street.  Again it is believed that this tradition is linked to the pagan worship of the Winter Solstice, the fireballs representing the power of the sun and its purifying power over evil spirits.

Speaking of evil spirits, I'm off now to consume a wee dram of single malt.  After all, it's bitterly cold outside, here in Queensland, where the temperature dropped today to 31 degrees Centigrade (about 88 Fahrenheit). 

And so, without further ado, it only remains for me to wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

Here's tae us! 
Wha's like us?
Damned few!
And they're a' dead.

....................<<..................>>...................