Christmastide - online book

Its History, Festivities And Carols

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	— 144 — There is an old custom in the north of England, according to Brockets s ' North Country Glossary,' that the first person who enters the house on New Year's Day is called First-Foot, who is considered to influence the fate of the family, especially the female part, for the whole of the year. Need we douht that the fair damsels of the household take good care that some favoured swain shall be this influential First-Foot, hoping perhaps that ere the next season he may have a dwelling of his own to receive such characters, instead of enacting it himself; of course he comes provided with an acceptable New Year's Gift.