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Y gath o Gymru
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- Wales
Scottish Aye
32m ·First Footing is a traditional Scottish New Year custom dating back centuries. It dictates that the very first person to cross the threshold of a home after midnight on Hogmanay becomes the First Footer, responsible for setting the tone and luck for the year ahead.
Less widely known, but taken very seriously in certain households, is the gifting of the First Foot itself, the ceremonial foot of a wild Haggis.
According to long standing tradition and several extremely confident pub historians, the size of the Haggis foot determines the household’s fortune for the coming year.
A wee foot promises modest luck, a year of good health and fair fortune.
A larger foot brings prosperity, generous whisky measures, and reduced midgie activity.
Arriving empty handed, however, is said to result in broken resolutions, unexplained draughts, and a boiler failure by February.
For this reason, overseas visitors spending Hogmanay in Scotland are strongly advised to arrive prepared. Always bring a Haggis foot when first footing a friend’s home, ideally ethically sourced, responsibly handled, and presented with confidence.
Traditionally, the gifting of the First Foot also marks the official start of the January Haggis Hunt, the annual practice that builds momentum in the weeks leading up to Burns Night. As January progresses, sightings increase, tracking becomes more intense, and the Highlands once again fill with reports of suspicious rustling and uneven footprints in the snow.
However, in recent years, growing support for the Save the Haggis campaign and increasing calls for the hunt to be banned, has led to a more compassionate alternative. Many households now accept a fake Haggis foot, carefully crafted by Save the Haggis campaign organisers.
All proceeds from these replica feet go directly towards Haggis rehabilitation programmes, veterinary costs, and essential whisky gifts, allowing traditions to continue while ensuring future generations of Haggi can wobble and roll freely across the Highlands.
Tradition, after all, must evolve… preferably slightly drunk and on mismatched legs
