New Year S Traditions Dark Haired Man

The tradition of first footing was always important in wales a dark haired man should let in the new year for good luck.

New year s traditions dark haired man. Fair haired first footers were not particularly welcome after the viking invasions of ancient times. New year s eve is called nos galan in welsh and whilst they also believe in letting out the old year and letting in the newif the first visitor in the new year is a woman and a man opens the door it s considered bad luck. In ireland long ago it was important to begin the new year with a spotlessly clean house signifying a fresh start to the new year.

Even on the isle of man a light haired male or female is deemed unlucky to be a first foot or qualtaagh if first footing ever takes root on this side of the atlantic where viking invasion. On this day the scottish observe many traditions but easily one of their most famous is first footing. A common superstition specific to new year s day concerns a household s first visitor of the year tradition states that if a tall dark haired stranger is the first to walk through your door called the first footer or lucky bird you ll have good luck all year.

The man leaves the house by the back door just before midnight on new year s eve walks around and on the strike of midnight knocks on the front door. A popular new years eve traditional irish belief was that the first person to enter the house after midnight should be black haired and also male to guarantee the luck of the house for the coming year. Traditional gifts include a lump of coal to lovingly place on the host s fire along with shortbread a black bun and whisky to toast to a happy new year.

To ensure good luck a first footer should be a dark haired man. The person most welcome on new year s morning was a tall dark haired man and especially if he bought a gift as this was considered magical as his handsome features would make the year a pleasant one and his gift of a loaf of bread or a shovel of coal would ensure that there would be no lack of food. Families would be sure to have a dark handsome man standing by to be first through the door with the woman red haired or not having to take second place.

First footing the scots new year tradition that sees them welcome tall dark haired men into the house.