First-Foot

First-Foot is an annual event from North England and Scotland and also known as quaaltagh or qualtagh in the Gaelic language.
In this custom the person to first set foot in the house in the New Year is said to bring good luck.
Customary is to appoint someone to enter the house right after midnight bringing coal for warmth and food and drinks.
The song of choice is ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
It is important here not to cheat by having someone leave the house and then return.
It has to be someone from outside.
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When no appointment is made, the custom allows to kindly ‘kidnap’ a caroler into the house and ask them to sing.