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Show Quaint Customs Surround Oldest British Festival Quaaltagh is seldom heard of In England, but is one of the oldest British festivals. It is observed in parts of the Isie of Man, where customs cus-toms similar to "first-footing" in Scotland are kept up, says Tit-Bits. Men go from house to house singing special festival songs, and are invited in-vited in for a bite and a drink. But there are one or two customs in connection with Quaaltagh which are observed nowhere else. Before midnight the floor of the kitchen is swept, always starting at the door and sweeping to the hearth, otherwise other-wise good luck will be swept out. Before retiring, the ashes are taken from the fire and smoothed over the hearth with a pair of tongs, and in the morning the housewife looks eagerly at the ashes for tracks of a human foot. If there is one and the toes point to the door, It means death for one in the house; if the footprint is reversed, it means the birth of a child. |