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In Scottish, Northern English, and Manx folklore, the first-foot (Scottish Gaelic: ciad-chuairt, Manx: quaaltagh/qualtagh) is the first person to enter the home of a household on New Year's Day and is seen as a bringer of good fortune for the coming year.^[1]^[2] Similar practices are also found in Greek, Vietnamese, and Georgian new year traditions.

Origin[edit]

The origins of first-footing is uncertain,^[1]^[3]^[4] although there may be a connection to the Viking Invasion of the British Isles: "This may go back to the time of Vikings when the arrival of a blond stranger at your door would be the cause of fear and alarm."^[4]

Many customs of first-footing (bringing coal, knocking on doors, group singing Auld Lang Syne to pass from the old to the new) parallel those of Samhain, the Celtic new year, for which fuel was gathered, food collected by reciting verses door-to-door, and a ritual fire lit to welcome crossing the threshold to the next world. ^{[citation needed]}

"Quite a degree of transferability of customs across the period between Samhain ... Christmas and New Year. Whether this represents a natural tendency to transfer celebrations that brighten the dull winter months or a concerted religious effort to dissipate or transform wholly pagan festivities remains unclear, but a combination of factors is likely."^[5]

Britain[edit]

North of England[edit]

The tradition of first-footing and how it is conducted varies from place to place in the North of England. Generally, a tall, dark-haired male is preferred over a man with light hair or a woman. There are regional variations about the hair colour of the first-foot, although generally they must be male.^[6] In East Yorkshire, the first-footer should be dark-haired, but the North York Moors first-footers should be fair-haired.^[7]

Often it is expected that they will bring symbolic gifts, and be given food and drink in return by the inhabitants of the house they visit:^[1]

The first-foot doesn’t enter the house empty-handed – any first-footers who do arrive empty-handed will bring bad luck with them. Instead, the first-foot should bring a selection of gifts for the household, which can include; a silver coin; shortbread or a black bun; salt; coal; and a drink, usually whisky. They represent prosperity, food, flavour, warmth for the house, and good cheer – the whisky is used to toast the new year.^[7]

Scotland[edit]

The practice of first-footing is still common across Scotland and varies from place to place as part of Hogmanay celebrations.^[8] The luck that the first-foot brings with him will determine the luck for the household for the rest of the year.^[9]

Generally, the first-foot should be a tall dark-haired male who is not already in the house when midnight strikes.^[9] In many areas, the first-foot should bring with him symbolic gifts such as coal, coins, whisky, or black buns.^[10] Food and drink will be given to the first-foot and any other guests. Often women and light or red haired men are considered very unlucky.^[8] In Scotland, first-footing has traditionally been more elaborate than in England, involving subsequent entertainment.^[6]

Isle of Man[edit]

On the Isle of Man the practice of first-footing has also been a long held tradition. A. W. Moore in his book Folklore of the Isle of Man described the practice:

The qualtagh (he or she) may also be the first person who enters a house on New Year's morning. In this case it is usual to place before him or her the best fare the family can afford. It was considered fortunate if the qualtagh were a person (a man being preferred to a woman), of dark complexion, as meeting a person of light complexion at this time, especially if his or her hair is red, would be thought very unlucky.^[11]

Traditionally, young boys would visit the houses in their local area on New Year's Day. They would recite a poem in the Manx language at every house and then a boy with dark hair was considered to be lucky for the household and he was given the best food and drink the inhabitants had to share.^[12]^[13]

The New Year Blessing in Manx^[14]

Ollick ghennal erriu as bleïn feer vie,
Seihll as slaynt da’n slane lught thie.
Bea as gennallys eu bio ry-cheilley,
Shee as graih eddyr mraane as deiney.
Cooid as cowryn, stock as stoyr.
Palçhey phuddase, as skaddan dy-liooar.
Arran as caashey, eeym as roayrt.
Baase, myr lugh, ayns uhllin ny soalt.
Cadley sauçhey tra vees shiu ny lhie,
As feeackle y jargan, nagh bee dy mie.

The New Year Blessing in English

A merry Christmas on ye, and a very good year,
Long life and health to the whole household.
Your life and mirth living together,
Peace and love between women and men.
Goods and wealth, stock and store,
Plenty potatoes and enough herring.
Bread and cheese, butter and beef,
Death, like a mouse, in the stackyard of the barn.
Sleeping safely when you lie,
and the flea’s tooth, may it not be well.

Outside of the British Isles[edit]

In Serbian folklore, the polaznik, polažajnik, polaženik, or radovan, is the first person who visits the family on Christmas Day.^[15] Like the first-foot tradition, it is expected that the visit will ensure good luck and well-being for the household in the ensuing year. Often a man or boy is chosen in advance for the visit on Christmas morning.^[15]

There are practices similar to first-footing outside the British Isles. For example, it exists in Sweden, where having a fair-skinned, blond(e) first-foot is considered the highest blessing whereas darker persons are considered bad luck. In a similar Greek tradition called pothariko, also called podariko (from the root pod-, or 'foot'), it is believed that the first person to enter the house on New Year's Eve brings either good or bad luck. Many households to this day keep this tradition and specially select who first enters the house. After the first-foot, the lady of the house serves the guests with Christmas treats or gives them an amount of money to ensure that good luck will come in the new year.

A similar tradition exists in the country of Georgia, where the person is called მეკვლე meḳvle (from კვალი ḳvali – 'footstep', 'footprint', 'trace'). In Mingrelian language, the person is called მაკუჩხური maḳučxuri (from კუჩხი ḳučxi – 'foot'); and in Svan language – მჷჭშხი məč̣šxi (from ჭიშხ č̣išx – 'foot').

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c Simpson, Jacqueline; Steve Roud (2000). "New Year". A Dictionary of English Folklore. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-210019-X.
^ Page, Michael; Robert Ingpen (1987). Encyclopedia of Things that Never Were. New York: Viking Press. p. 167. ISBN 0-670-81607-8.
^ Sedgwick, Icy (29 December 2016). "What is First-Footing and Can it Improve Tour Year?". Folklore thursday. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Happy Hoggo-nott?: The 'lost' meanings of Hogmanay". BBC. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
^ https://atlanticreligion.com/2013/10/28/the-meaning-of-samhain/ Atlantic Religion. com collected 31 December 2018
^ ^a ^b One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "First-foot". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 424.
^ ^a ^b Sedgwick, Icy (29 December 2016). "What is First-Footing and Can it Improve Your Year?". Folklore thursday. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
^ ^a ^b Johnson, Ben. "The History of Hogmanay". Historic UK. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Hogmanay traditions old and new". BBC. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
^ Mcindoe, Ross (19 December 2019). "What is first footing? where the Scottish Hogmanay tradition comes from and common first footing gifts". The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
^ A. W., Moore (1891). "Chapter VI: Customs and Superstitions Connected with the Seasons". A Manx Notebook. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
^ "Quaaltagh". Culture Vannin. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
^ Gell, John (1954). Conversational Manx. Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh. pp. 19–20. ISBN 1-87-0029-10-0.
^ Entry for the headword "Quaaltagh or Qualtagh," in Archibald Cregeen, A Dictionary of the Manx Language (Douglas & London & Liverpool, 1835 [but 1837], 132b
^ ^a ^b Miles, Clement A. (2008). "The Yule Log". Christmas in Ritual and Tradition. Forgotten Books. pp. 192–99. ISBN 978-1-60506-814-5. Retrieved 5 August 2020

External links[edit]

Recording of John Gell reciting the Manx New Year blessing
Article about first-footing from PR Newswire
Short video about first-footing^{[permanent dead link]} in Northumbria (1950)

[:2-1] Simpson, Jacqueline; Steve Roud (2000). "New Year". A Dictionary of English Folklore. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-210019-X.

[EOTTNW-2] Page, Michael; Robert Ingpen (1987). Encyclopedia of Things that Never Were. New York: Viking Press. p. 167. ISBN 0-670-81607-8.

[:32-3] Sedgwick, Icy (29 December 2016). "What is First-Footing and Can it Improve Tour Year?". Folklore thursday. Retrieved 4 August 2020.

[:4-4] "Happy Hoggo-nott?: The 'lost' meanings of Hogmanay". BBC. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2020.

[5] ttps://atlanticreligion.com/2013/10/28/the-meaning-of-samhain/ Atlantic Religion. com collected 31 December 2018

[EB1911-6] One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "First-foot". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 424.

[:3-7] Sedgwick, Icy (29 December 2016). "What is First-Footing and Can it Improve Your Year?". Folklore thursday. Retrieved 4 August 2020.

[:0-8] Johnson, Ben. "The History of Hogmanay". Historic UK. Retrieved 4 August 2020.

[:1-9] "Hogmanay traditions old and new". BBC. Retrieved 4 August 2020.

[10] Mcindoe, Ross (19 December 2019). "What is first footing? where the Scottish Hogmanay tradition comes from and common first footing gifts". The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 August 2020.

[11] A. W., Moore (1891). "Chapter VI: Customs and Superstitions Connected with the Seasons". A Manx Notebook. Retrieved 1 August 2020.

[12] "Quaaltagh". Culture Vannin. Retrieved 1 August 2020.

[13] Gell, John (1954). Conversational Manx. Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh. pp. 19–20. ISBN 1-87-0029-10-0.

[14] Entry for the headword "Quaaltagh or Qualtagh," in Archibald Cregeen, A Dictionary of the Manx Language (Douglas & London & Liverpool, 1835 [but 1837], 132b

[:5-15] Miles, Clement A. (2008). "The Yule Log". Christmas in Ritual and Tradition. Forgotten Books. pp. 192–99. ISBN 978-1-60506-814-5. Retrieved 5 August 2020

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{short description|British and Manx New Year's ritual}}
+In Scottish, Northern English, and Manx folklore, the '''first-foot''' ({{lang-gd|ciad-chuairt}}, {{lang-gv|quaaltagh/qualtagh}}) is the first person to enter the home of a household on [[New Year's Day]] and is seen as a bringer of good fortune for the coming year.<ref name=":2">{{cite book|last=Simpson|first=Jacqueline|title=A Dictionary of English Folklore|author2=Steve Roud|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2000|isbn=0-19-210019-X|chapter=New Year|chapter-url=http://blog.oup.com/2009/12/nye-folklore/}}</ref><ref name="EOTTNW">{{cite book |last=Page |first=Michael |author2=Robert Ingpen |title=Encyclopedia of Things that Never Were |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofth00page |url-access=registration |publisher=[[Viking Press]] |location=[[New York, New York|New York]] |year=1987 |isbn=0-670-81607-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofth00page/page/167 167] }}</ref> Similar practices are also found in [[Culture of Greece|Greek]], [[Culture of Vietnam| Vietnamese]], and [[Culture of Georgia (country)|Georgian]] new year traditions.
-{{more footnotes|date=February 2014}}
-In British and Manx folklore, the '''first-foot''' ({{lang-gd|ciad-chuairt}}, {{lang-gv|quaaltagh/qualtagh}}) is the first person to enter the home of a household on [[New Year's Day]] and is seen as a bringer of good fortune for the coming year.<ref name=":2">{{cite book|last=Simpson|first=Jacqueline|title=A Dictionary of English Folklore|author2=Steve Roud|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2000|isbn=0-19-210019-X|chapter=New Year|chapter-url=http://blog.oup.com/2009/12/nye-folklore/}}</ref><ref name="EOTTNW">{{cite book |last=Page |first=Michael |author2=Robert Ingpen |title=Encyclopedia of Things that Never Were |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofth00page |url-access=registration |publisher=[[Viking Press]] |location=[[New York, New York|New York]] |year=1987 |isbn=0-670-81607-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofth00page/page/167 167] }}</ref> Similar practices are also found in [[Culture of Greece|Greek]] and [[Culture of Georgia (country)|Georgian]] new year traditions.
 == Origin ==
 The origins of first-footing is uncertain,<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":32">{{Cite web|last=Sedgwick|first=Icy|date=29 December 2016|title=What is First-Footing and Can it Improve Tour Year?|url=https://folklorethursday.com/christmas/first-footing-can-improve-year/|access-date=4 August 2020|website=Folklore thursday}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news|date=31 December 2012|title=Happy Hoggo-nott?: The 'lost' meanings of Hogmanay|work=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-20596225|access-date=5 August 2020}}</ref> although there may be a connection to the [[Viking expansion|Viking Invasion]] of the British Isles: "This may go back to the time of Vikings when the arrival of a blond stranger at your door would be the cause of fear and alarm."<ref name=":4" />
-Whenever a public ritual is suppressed many continue it at another date.{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=August 2020}} Many customs of first-footing (bringing coal, knocking on doors, group singing [[Auld Lang Syne]] to pass from the old to the new) parallel those of [[Samhain]], the Celtic new year, for which fuel was gathered, food collected by reciting verses door-to-door, and a ritual fire lit to welcome crossing the threshold to the next world. {{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=August 2020}}<blockquote>“Quite a degree of transferability of customs across the period between [[Samhain]] ... Christmas and New Year. Whether this represents a natural tendency to transfer celebrations that brighten the dull winter months or a concerted religious effort to dissipate or transform wholly pagan festivities remains unclear, but a combination of factors is likely.” <ref>https://atlanticreligion.com/2013/10/28/the-meaning-of-samhain/  Atlantic Religion. com collected 31 December 2018</ref></blockquote>
+Many customs of first-footing (bringing coal, knocking on doors, group singing [[Auld Lang Syne]] to pass from the old to the new) parallel those of [[Samhain]], the Celtic new year, for which fuel was gathered, food collected by reciting verses door-to-door, and a ritual fire lit to welcome crossing the threshold to the next world. {{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=August 2020}}<blockquote>"Quite a degree of transferability of customs across the period between [[Samhain]] ... Christmas and New Year. Whether this represents a natural tendency to transfer celebrations that brighten the dull winter months or a concerted religious effort to dissipate or transform wholly pagan festivities remains unclear, but a combination of factors is likely."<ref>https://atlanticreligion.com/2013/10/28/the-meaning-of-samhain/  Atlantic Religion. com collected 31 December 2018</ref></blockquote>
 == Britain ==
 === North of England ===
-The tradition of first-footing and how it is conducted varies from place to place in the [[Northern England|North of England]]. Generally, a tall, dark-haired male is preferred over a man with light hair or even a woman. There are regional variations about the hair colour of the first-foot, although generally they must be a male.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|wstitle=First-foot|inline=yes}}</ref> In [[East Riding of Yorkshire|East Yorkshire]], the first-footer should be dark-haired, but the [[North York Moors]] first-footers should be fair-haired.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Sedgwick|first=Icy|date=29 December 2016|title=What is First-Footing and Can it Improve Tour Year?|url=https://folklorethursday.com/christmas/first-footing-can-improve-year/|access-date=4 August 2020|website=Folklore thursday}}</ref>
+The tradition of first-footing and how it is conducted varies from place to place in the [[Northern England|North of England]]. Generally, a tall, dark-haired male is preferred over a man with light hair or a woman. There are regional variations about the hair colour of the first-foot, although generally they must be male.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|wstitle=First-foot|inline=yes|volume=10|page=424}}</ref> In [[East Riding of Yorkshire|East Yorkshire]], the first-footer should be dark-haired, but the [[North York Moors]] first-footers should be fair-haired.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Sedgwick|first=Icy|date=29 December 2016|title=What is First-Footing and Can it Improve Your Year?|url=https://folklorethursday.com/christmas/first-footing-can-improve-year/|access-date=4 August 2020|website=Folklore thursday}}</ref>
 Often it is expected that they will bring symbolic gifts, and be given food and drink in return by the inhabitants of the house they visit:<ref name=":2" /> <blockquote>The first-foot doesn’t enter the house empty-handed – any first-footers who do arrive empty-handed will bring bad luck with them. Instead, the first-foot should bring a selection of gifts for the household, which can include; a silver coin; shortbread or a black bun; salt; coal; and a drink, usually whisky. They represent prosperity, food, flavour, warmth for the house, and good cheer – the whisky is used to toast the new year.<ref name=":3" /></blockquote>
 === Scotland ===
-The practice of first-footing is still common across Scotland and varies from place to place as part of [[Hogmanay|Hogmanay]] celebrations.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Ben|title=The History of Hogmanay|url=https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-History-of-Hogmanay/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CFirst%20footing%E2%80%9D%20(or%20the,a%20wee%20dram%20of%20whisky.|access-date=4 August 2020|website=Historic UK}}</ref> The luck that the first-foot brings with him will determine the luck for the household for the rest of the year.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title=Hogmanay traditions old and new|work=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/highlandsandislands/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8434000/8434760.stm|access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>
+The practice of first-footing is still common across Scotland and varies from place to place as part of [[Hogmanay]] celebrations.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Ben|title=The History of Hogmanay|url=https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-History-of-Hogmanay/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CFirst%20footing%E2%80%9D%20(or%20the,a%20wee%20dram%20of%20whisky).|access-date=4 August 2020|website=Historic UK}}</ref> The luck that the first-foot brings with him will determine the luck for the household for the rest of the year.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title=Hogmanay traditions old and new|work=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/highlandsandislands/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8434000/8434760.stm|access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>
 Generally, the first-foot should be a tall dark-haired male who is not already in the house when midnight strikes.<ref name=":1" /> In many areas, the first-foot should bring with him symbolic gifts such as coal, coins, whisky, or [[Black bun|black buns]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mcindoe|first=Ross|date=19 December 2019|title=What is first footing? where the Scottish Hogmanay tradition comes from and common first footing gifts|url=https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/what-first-footing-where-scottish-hogmanay-tradition-comes-and-common-first-footing-gifts-1399325|access-date=4 August 2020|website=The Scotsman}}</ref> Food and drink will be given to the first-foot and any other guests. Often women and light or red haired men are considered very unlucky.<ref name=":0" /> In Scotland, first-footing has traditionally been more elaborate than in England, involving subsequent entertainment.<ref name="EB1911" />
 == Isle of Man ==
-On the [[Isle of Man]] the practice of first-footing has also been a long held tradition. [[Arthur William Moore|A.W. Moore]] in his book ''Folklore of the Isle of Man'' described the practice:<blockquote>The ''qualtagh'' (he or she) may also be the first person who enters a house on New Year's morning. In this case it is usual to place before him or her the best fare the family can afford. It was considered fortunate if the ''qualtagh'' were a person (a man being preferred to a woman), of dark complexion, as meeting a person of light complexion at this time, especially if his or her hair is red, would be thought very unlucky.<ref>{{Cite web|last=A.W.|first=Moore|date=1891|title=Chapter VI: Customs and Superstitions Connected with the Seasons.|url=http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/folklore/ch06.htm|access-date=1 August 2020|website=A Manx Notebook}}</ref></blockquote>Traditionally, young boys would visit the houses in their local area on New Year's Day. They would recite a poem in the [[Manx language]] at every house and then a boy with dark hair was considered to be lucky for the household and he was given the best food and drink the inhabitants had to share.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Quaaltagh|url=https://www.culturevannin.im/manxfolklore/quaaltagh-574047/|access-date=1 August 2020|website=Culture Vannin}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Gell|first=John|title=Conversational Manx|publisher=Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh|year=1954|isbn=1-87-0029-10-0|pages=19-20}}</ref>
+On the [[Isle of Man]] the practice of first-footing has also been a long held tradition. [[Arthur William Moore|A. W. Moore]] in his book ''Folklore of the Isle of Man'' described the practice:
+{{quote|The ''qualtagh'' (he or she) may also be the first person who enters a house on New Year's morning. In this case it is usual to place before him or her the best fare the family can afford. It was considered fortunate if the ''qualtagh'' were a person (a man being preferred to a woman), of dark complexion, as meeting a person of light complexion at this time, especially if his or her hair is red, would be thought very unlucky.<ref>{{Cite web|last=A. W.|first=Moore|date=1891|title=Chapter VI: Customs and Superstitions Connected with the Seasons|url=http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/folklore/ch06.htm|access-date=1 August 2020|website=A Manx Notebook}}</ref>}}
+Traditionally, young boys would visit the houses in their local area on New Year's Day. They would recite a poem in the [[Manx language]] at every house and then a boy with dark hair was considered to be lucky for the household and he was given the best food and drink the inhabitants had to share.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Quaaltagh|url=https://www.culturevannin.im/manxfolklore/quaaltagh-574047/|access-date=1 August 2020|website=Culture Vannin}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Gell|first=John|title=Conversational Manx|publisher=Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh|year=1954|isbn=1-87-0029-10-0|pages=19–20}}</ref>
 {{col-start}}
 {{col-2}}
 '''The New Year Blessing in Manx'''<ref>Entry for the headword "Quaaltagh or Qualtagh," in Archibald Cregeen, A Dictionary of the Manx Language (Douglas & London & Liverpool, 1835 [but 1837], 132b</ref>
+<poem>{{lang|gv|
 Ollick ghennal erriu as bleïn feer vie,
 Seihll as slaynt da’n slane lught thie.
 Bea as gennallys eu bio ry-cheilley,
 Shee as graih eddyr mraane as deiney.
 Cooid as cowryn, stock as stoyr.
 Palçhey phuddase, as skaddan dy-liooar.
 Arran as caashey, eeym as roayrt.
 Baase, myr lugh, ayns uhllin ny soalt.
 Cadley sauçhey tra vees shiu ny lhie,
+As feeackle y jargan, nagh bee dy mie.}}</poem>
-As feeackle y jargan, nagh bee dy mie.
 {{col-2}}
 '''The New Year Blessing in English'''
-A merry Christmas on ye, and a very good
+<poem>A merry Christmas on ye, and a very good year,
+Long life and health to the whole household.
-year,
-Long life and health to the whole
-household.
 Your life and mirth living together,
 Peace and love between women and men.
 Goods and wealth, stock and store,
 Plenty potatoes and enough herring.
 Bread and cheese, butter and beef,
+Death, like a mouse, in the stackyard of the barn.
-Death, like a mouse, in the stackyard of the
-barn.
 Sleeping safely when you lie,
+and the flea’s tooth, may it not be well.</poem>
-and the flea’s tooth, may it not be well.
 {{col-end}}
 == Outside of the British Isles ==
+{{Main articles|Polaznik}}
-In [[Serbian folklore]], the ''polaznik'', ''polažajnik'', ''polaženik'', or ''radovan'', is the first person who visits the family on Christmas Day.<ref name=":5">Miles, Clement A. (2008). "[https://books.google.ie/books?id=rsJNIGDbej4C&pg=PT202&redir_esc=y&hl=ga The Yule Log]". ''Christmas in Ritual and Tradition''. Forgotten Books. pp. 192–99. {{ISBN|978-1-60506-814-5}}. Retrieved 5 August 2020</ref> Like the first-foot tradition, it is expected that the visit will ensure good luck and well-being for the household in the ensuing year. Often a man or boy is chosen in advance for the visit on Christmas morning.<ref name=":5" />
+In [[Serbian folklore]], the ''[[polaznik]]'', ''polažajnik'', ''polaženik'', or ''radovan'', is the first person who visits the family on Christmas Day.<ref name=":5">Miles, Clement A. (2008). "[https://books.google.com/books?id=rsJNIGDbej4C&pg=PT202 The Yule Log]". ''Christmas in Ritual and Tradition''. Forgotten Books. pp. 192–99. {{ISBN|978-1-60506-814-5}}. Retrieved 5 August 2020</ref> Like the first-foot tradition, it is expected that the visit will ensure good luck and well-being for the household in the ensuing year. Often a man or boy is chosen in advance for the visit on Christmas morning.<ref name=":5" />
 There are practices similar to first-footing outside the British Isles. For example, it exists in Sweden, where having a fair-skinned, blond(e) first-foot is considered the highest blessing whereas darker persons are considered bad luck. In a similar [[Greece|Greek]] tradition called ''pothariko'', also called ''podariko'' (from the root ''pod-'', or 'foot'), it is believed that the first person to enter the house on [[New Year's Eve]] brings either good or bad luck.  Many households to this day keep this tradition and specially select who first enters the house. After the first-foot, the lady of the house serves the guests with [[Christmas]] treats or gives them an amount of money to ensure that good luck will come in the new year.
-A similar tradition exists in the country of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], where the person is called ''mekvle'' (from ''kvali'' – 'footstep', 'footprint', 'trace').
+A similar tradition exists in the country of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], where the person is called {{lang|ka|მეკვლე}} ''meḳvle'' (from {{lang|ka|კვალი}} ''ḳvali'' – 'footstep', 'footprint', 'trace'). In [[Mingrelian language]], the person is called {{lang|xmf|მაკუჩხური}} ''maḳučxuri'' (from {{lang|xmf|კუჩხი}} ''ḳučxi'' – 'foot'); and in [[Svan language]] – {{lang|sva|მჷჭშხი}} ''məč̣šxi'' (from {{lang|sva|ჭიშხ}} ''č̣išx'' – 'foot').
 ==See also==
-* [[Serbian Christmas traditions#Polaznik|Polažajnik]] in Serbian folklore
+* [[Serbian Christmas traditions#Polažajnik|Polažajnik]] in Serbian folklore
 * [[House blessing]]
 * [[Wassailing]]
@@ Line 90: / Line 72: @@
 ==External links==
-{{wikisource|Folk-Lore/Volume 4/First-footing in Edinburgh|First-footing in Edinburgh}}
+{{Wikisource|Folk-Lore/Volume 4/First-footing in Edinburgh|First-footing in Edinburgh}}
-{{wikisource|Folk-Lore/Volume 4/First-footing in Aberdeenshire|First-footing in Aberdeenshire}}
+{{Wikisource|Folk-Lore/Volume 4/First-footing in Aberdeenshire|First-footing in Aberdeenshire}}
+{{Wiktionary|first-foot|qualtagh}}
-* Recording of [[John Gell (Manx language activist)|John Gell]] reciting the [https://soundcloud.com/culture-vannin/the-manx-quaaltagh-blessing-john-gell?in=culture-vannin/sets/quaaltagh#t=0:05 Manx New Year blessing]
-* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110608190511/http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=50277 Article about first-footing] from [[PR Newswire]]
-* [http://www.yorkshirefilmarchive.com/film/northumbrian-custom-first-footing Short video about first-footing] in Northumbria (1950)
+*Recording of [[John Gell (Manx language activist)|John Gell]] reciting the [https://soundcloud.com/culture-vannin/the-manx-quaaltagh-blessing-john-gell?in=culture-vannin/sets/quaaltagh#t=0:05 Manx New Year blessing]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110608190511/http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=50277 Article about first-footing] from [[PR Newswire]]
+*[http://www.yorkshirefilmarchive.com/film/northumbrian-custom-first-footing Short video about first-footing]{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} in Northumbria (1950)
+{{New Year}}
 {{Superstitions}}
+[[Category:Culture of Georgia (country)]]
+[[Category:Hogmanay]]
 [[Category:New Year celebrations]]
-[[Category:Winter traditions]]
+[[Category:Luck]]
 [[Category:Scottish folklore]]
-[[Category:Hogmanay]]
+[[Category:Scottish popular culture]]
-[[Category:Luck]]
 [[Category:Superstitions of Great Britain]]
-[[Category:Culture of Georgia (country)]]
+[[Category:Winter traditions]]
-[[Category:Scottish popular culture]]

v t e New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
Events	America's Party First Night Hogmanay New Year's Eve in London Novy God Objects dropped on New Year's Eve Peach Drop Pelican Drop Réveillon de Copacabana Sydney New Year's Eve Taipei New Year's Eve Party The Possum Drop Times Square Ball Twelve Grapes Vienna New Year's Concert
Sports	College Football Playoff bowl games Rose Orange Sugar Fiesta Cotton Peach Other college football games Citrus Bowl Gator Bowl ReliaQuest Bowl Tour de Ski JFA Emperor's Cup Final Four Hills Tournament NHL Winter Classic Spengler Cup Final IIHF World Junior Championship Team Canada New Year's Eve Game Saint Silvester Road Race New Year Sprint Nos Galan road race
Parades	Tournament of Roses Parade London's New Year's Day Parade Florida Citrus Parade Mummers Parade
Television	New Year's Rockin' Eve Fox New Year's Eve specials NBC New Year's Eve specials BBC New Year's Eve specials BBC Scotland's Hogmanay CNN New Year's Eve Live ¡Feliz! MTV New Year's Eve specials GMA New Year's Eve Countdown Special Áramótaskaupið The Big Fat Quiz of the Year Bye Bye Dinner for One Happy New Year, America Hootenanny Kōhaku Uta Gassen Little Blue Light Only an Excuse? Red Bull New Year No Limits Rudolph's Shiny New Year Scotch and Wry Silvesterstadl "Sylvesterpunsch" 2000 Today US Ireland STV Hogmanay specials Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! First Night 2013 with Jamie Kennedy Sesame Street Stays Up Late! MBC Gayo Daejejeon Hello 2021 Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne
Music	"Auld Lang Syne" Chorale preludes for New Year's (Bach) Church cantatas for New Year's "Happy New Year" "It's Just Another New Year's Eve" "Levy-Dew" "New Year's Day" "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" "What's Another Year"
Related	New Year films Gregorian calendar Baby New Year Father Time Feast of the Circumcision of Christ First-foot Calennig Hogmanay Christmas and holiday season Junkanoo Leap second Guy Lombardo New Year's resolution New Year tree Saint Sylvester's Day Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Vasilopita Watchnight service
Miscellaneous	New Year Address by the President of Russia Prime Minister's New Year Message

v t e Superstition
Main topics	Amulet Evil eye Luck Omen Talismans Myth and ritual
Lists	List of superstitions List of lucky symbols List of bad luck signs Sailors' superstitions Theatrical superstitions
Africa	Superstition in Ethiopia Buda Gris-gris Sampy Sleeping child
Americas	Ascalapha odorata Bermuda Triangle Brujería Carranca Cooties Curse of Tippecanoe Curupira Djucu Fortune cookie Groundhog Day I'noGo tied Oscar love curse Susto Veve White lighter myth Witch window
Asia	Superstition in India Superstition in Pakistan Superstition in the Philippines Japanese superstitions Superstition in Korea Bhoot (ghost) Chhaupadi Churel Ghosts in Bengali culture Jackal's horn Kuai Kuai culture Muhurta Navaratna Nazar Nazar battu Pichal Peri Puppy pregnancy syndrome Akabeko Kanai Anzen Maneki-neko Okiagari-koboshi Ofuda Omamori Fan death Feng shui Hindu astrology Agimat Albularyo Barang Kulam Lihi Pagtatawas Pasma Usog Kuman Thong Palad khik Takrut Nang Kwak Vastu shastra White elephant Jin Chan Numbers in Chinese culture Yantra cloth
Europe	August curse Barbary macaques in Gibraltar Bayern-luck Blarney Stone Cimaruta Cornicello The Goodman's Croft Himmelsbrief Icelandic magical staves In bocca al lupo Kitchen witch Klabautermann Mooncalf Need-fire Painted pebbles Powder of sympathy Rabbit rabbit rabbit Ravens of the Tower of London Russian traditions and superstitions Superstition in Britain Superstition in Serbia Spilling water for luck The Scottish Play Troll cross Tycho Brahe days Witch post Wolfssegen
General	1 (Ace of spades) 3 (Three on a match) 4 (Four-leaf clover, tetraphobia) 7 (Seventh son of a seventh son) 11:11 13 (Friday the 13th, The Thirteen Club, thirteenth floor, triskaidekaphobia) 17 (Heptadecaphobia) 27 (27 Club) 39 (Curse of 39) 666 (Number of the Beast) Auspicious wedding dates Baseball superstition Beginner's luck Black cat Bread and butter Break a leg Bullroarer Chain letter Cramp-ring Curse Davy Jones' Locker Dead man's hand End-of-the-day betting effect Fear of frogs Fear of ghosts Fertility rite First-foot Flying Dutchman Four eleven forty-four Gambler's conceit Good luck charm Human sacrifice Jinx Hex Knocking on wood Law of contagion Literomancy Lock of hair Maternal impression Miasma theory Nelson Numerophobia Numismatic charm Penny Rabbit's foot Rainmaking Ship sponsor Shoes on a table Sign of the horns Something old Spilling salt Statue rubbing Threshold Toi toi toi Wishing well Witch ball Witching hour
Related	Apophenia Apotropaic magic Astrology and science Coincidence Debunker Divination Folk religion Fortune-telling Magic and religion Magical thinking Numerology Perceptions of religious imagery in natural phenomena Post hoc ergo propter hoc Traditional medicine Urban legend Superstition in Judaism Superstitions in Muslim societies