In a message dated 16/01/2004 15:45:02 GMT Standard Time, janetchopkins@hotmail.com writes: > What was it that the dark haired man was supposed to bring across the > threshhold? A lump of coal, a coin, and..... what was the other thing? > As first-foot he brings in a token of the prosperity to be enjoyed by the hosehold forhte next twelve months, so as well as coal (warmth) and money (general prosperity), he must have some food and/or drink. Indeed the money aspect was never important in my memory - It was the food (cake - a piece of left-over Christmas cake perhaps) and drink - usually whisky, as beer might be considered not strong enough - it had to be the best, ie the strongest, and so had to be spirits: with the Scottish connection with first-footing that had to mean whisky. The man in question has to be tall, dark and handsome. Considering that, after wishing everyone a Happy New Year, his next duty is always to kiss all the ladies present, that is perhaps understandable! First-footing, on such a formal basis at least, seems to be dying out, as are so many old customs in this increasingly rootless and commercialised world, but it's not dead yet! However, I can only see a strong revival coming if someone were to commercialise it - and then the government would think of a way to tax it! it was strong when people lived in the sort of small community where everyone knew everyone else, all were close to the bread-line and just having the one fling of the year at New Year, where everyone knew everyone else well enough to wander into their house just after midnight (would you let a stranger in at that time of nght, even if he was tall, dark and handsome - especially when, as at New Year, he probably smelled strongly of drink? In an old pit village there would have been no strangers. Best wishes, Geoff Nicholson 57 Manor Park, Concord, WASHINGTON, Tyne & Wear NE37 2BU (0191 417 9546) Professional Genealogist - Northumberland and Co Durham.