First footing, an extreme sport

Yesterday I learnt the lengths people will go to bring in the New Year. I was quite happy with a glass or two of champers, some family bickering over board games and lots of hugging at midnight. Then a mysterious man knocked on my door on New Year's Day, asking for a cup of salt.

He said he was staying with my neighbours. I dutifully poured some salt into his cup but as he left the surrealness of the situation hit me. So I texted my neighbour to ask if it was a New Year's ritual. Also if so, wasn't he supposed to bring salt not take it?

Meanwhile we began to debate the tradition and etiquette of 'first footing'. My Mother in law remembered her husband bringing in the New Year in this Scottish tradition. How had the Alexander clan (we're not very Scottish really) allowed this tradition to lapse? Mr A was dutifully shoved out the back door with a sausage in one hand (he'd been making sausages butties for all 14 of us bless him) and a lump of coal in the other, to symbolise food and warmth. He was instructed to take the old year out the back door and bring the new one in the front door.

Mr A reappeared a minute later, through the back door, to much scorn and disgust.  He needed the key for the camper van which was blocking his exit down the side of the house. Undeterred by this obstacle he
climbed through the camper van boot and out the passenger door. He eventually rang the doorbell and we welcomed him in.

Mr G was very excited by the whole ritual and gave Mr A a huge hug. Lots of innuendos too, about letting my husband and his sausage in the front door.

After all that palaver my neighbour texted to say yes her guest was Scottish and had wanted the salt to first foot her house. So after much hungover bickering about what first footing consisted of, the mystery was solved. Why he didn't just tell me that's what the salt was for I don't know.

We're semi detached with our neighbours so I'm hoping this building is going to be a very lucky place to be this year.

Happy New Year! Hope it was a good one. Do you have any New Year rituals?