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Show Scots Celebrate Hogmanay, Day Of First-Footing What's Hogmanay? It's the Scottish name for New Year's Eve and first footing foot-ing is what they call the tradition that dictates Scottish Scot-tish hospitality for the New Year celebration. The first person to cross the threshold of any house on that occasion is supposed sup-posed to do so bringing gifts to his or her host gifts of food or coal, both tokens of warmth and friendliness. In return, the first-footer receives re-ceives a drink. But that's not all. People used to compete vigorously for the honor of being a first-footer, and ran races from door to door. Their hosts might or might not be happy to welcome the visitors. visi-tors. If the first-footer were a woman, it meant bad luck |