Helping The Fate
By Anna
@LadyDuck (502487)
Italy
January 9, 2017 6:32am CST
Among local New Year superstitions, there one called called "first-foot".
For a lucky year, the first person who will come inside your home should a man, better if wearing some kind of uniform.
Last year the first person to come inside our home was a woman and I cannot say that the 2016 has been a great year. What to do to avoid another unlucky year?
I came out with an idea. The last day of the year I went to the post office and I sent a package to our address.
The first person to ring our bell on the New Year, has been the mailman, bringing my parcel. 
Of course I asked him to step inside, while I signed the recipe for the parcel. I hope that "cheating" will not cancel the effect of the "first-foot".
Do you have weird New Year superstitions?
(Image is by Pixabay)
Of course I asked him to step inside, while I signed the recipe for the parcel. I hope that "cheating" will not cancel the effect of the "first-foot".
Do you have weird New Year superstitions?
(Image is by Pixabay)69 people like this
78 responses
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
9 Jan 17
I want home when the first non resident set foot into our home. My daughter her husband and two of my grandsons were waiting in my living room when I arrived home from a quick trip to give my father New Years greetings.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (502487)
• Italy
10 Jan 17
@Morleyhunt I can understand, but I am sure it was not a big problem to arrive after them.
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
9 Jan 17
@LadyDuck they certainly are. It was nice to see them, although I had hoped to get home before they arrived.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
9 Jan 17
That is quite a superstition and you came up with a very creative way to deal with it. I do hope that your year will be a happy and prosperous one. I am not confident that the year (or the next four) will go well for United States, but will keep a positive attitude for my state of Oregon and for Anne, my daughter and myself.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502487)
• Italy
9 Jan 17
@JamesHxstatic To be honest, I do not see the coming year as a lucky and prosperous one, but I hope it will not bring problems.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
9 Jan 17
@LadyDuck That is an unfortunate fact, I know.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502487)
• Italy
9 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill I know that they deliver here and we have no mailladies.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
9 Jan 17
@LadyDuck They don't deliver to the door here, maillady sits in her truck and blows the horn.
3 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
9 Jan 17
I like how you handled that this year. That was very clever thinking. I am not a superstitious person so I don't have any superstitions. Good luck to you I hope 2017 will be a good year for you.
3 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
11 Jan 17
Fortunately I do not have any New year superstitions. I have not been one that believes in them.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
11 Jan 17
@LadyDuck little things like that can make you step back and see things through different eyes.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502487)
• Italy
11 Jan 17
@ElusiveButterfly You are right, I had never considered this superstition, but I remembered how much my grandmother was scared to see a woman come inside first.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
13 Jan 17
Never heard of that one and no I have no weird superstitions or any superstitions whatsoever.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
14 Jan 17
@LadyDuck I left Italy when I was 10 years old. I don't remember my parents or relatives ever having any superstitions. It is strange, isn't it?
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502487)
• Italy
15 Jan 17
@1hopefulman Usually southern Italians are more superstitious that those who live in the north, but we have some weird superstitions in the north too. I left Italy when I was 25.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
12 Jan 17
my mum used to think the new year had to be seen in by someone with a lump of coal and me or my dad used to be sent out just before midnight with a coal-lump to bring back in on the stroke of midnight - i was glad when we switched to central heating
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
12 Jan 17
@LadyDuck interesting ornament
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502487)
• Italy
13 Jan 17
@arthurchappell They are cute, some use marzipan pigs as a place marker, pigs are considered a sign of wealth, I still prefer the other ornament than a pig.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
9 Jan 17
I don't want strange men walking in my home - and I have no problem with 2016...I have a feeling we'll need some luck when dealing with the next 4 years. No superstitions here...just some complaints?!
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
9 Jan 17
@LadyDuck We only have mail lady....two or there of them actually.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502487)
• Italy
9 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill We have two mailmen and one man to deliver the parcels. The female are behind the counters in the post offices.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502487)
• Italy
10 Jan 17
@Inlemay There are so many in Italy, I usually do not pay attention at all. My niece does not pay attention to this one, but she gets mad if someone makes a toast with a glass full of water. I know nobody in my family who had a problem with this.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jan 17
That was a pretty ingenious way to cheat the system! I hope it works for you! I guess we'll find out for sure in about 11 months from now!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jan 17
@LadyDuck Just keep thinking happy thoughts, and I'm sure you'll find that you are having a great year! Sorry to hear that you have the flu right now, I hope you feel better soon!
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
12 Jan 17
Now you're trying to cheat the fates, Anna- haha! Very good and I do hope it works for you! My husband is from Ireland and knows all about the first foot thing- He was also brought up to believe that a dark haired person first footing you is more lucky than blonde or even a redhead~
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502487)
• Italy
12 Jan 17
@MarymargII The Scottish tradition it's not about uniform, but I think to remember that chimney sweeps were considered to bring luck.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
12 Jan 17
@LadyDuck He didn't remember the uniform part- but he has been in Canada since he was in his early twenties.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59761)
• Philippines
10 Jan 17
Thank you for sharing this New Year superstition. First time I have heard of it. Do you know its origin?
Here in the Philippines, there are a lot of New Year superstitions, let me write down a couple:
* Having twelve round fruits displayed on the dining table.
The round shape represents money and each fruit represents one month in a year. Having this fruit basket ensures prosperity for the household all throughout the year.
* Taping money (preferably high denomination bills) on top of doorways.
It is believed that the house will have better finances all throughout the year.
* Jumping at the stroke of midnight
Usually done by children, kids believed that the higher they jumped the taller they'll get in the new year.
That's what I can share for now.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59761)
• Philippines
11 Jan 17
@LadyDuck I've been doing research about Christmas and New Year's Eve traditions here in our country. I' seen books and manuscripts describing each tradition but can't seem to find something that tells its origins.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502487)
• Italy
12 Jan 17
@allen0187 I am also searching and I cannot find the origin of this tradition. I am sure there is one.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
30 Jan 17
Fortunately your neighbor did not bring along a homemade pie first thing in the morning!
I doubt you would like to see policemen coming to your house first thing in the morning on New Year, nor the firemen.
Both of them will not be there unless something is wrong.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
6 Jan 21
@LadyDuck I know I am to struggle all my life..maybe I will be canonized
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Jan 17
none that I know of, and that was a genius way to try and fix things up! lol
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502487)
• Italy
11 Jan 17
@Jessicalynnt I agree, I know you also had a very bad year.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Jan 17
@LadyDuck yeah, last year had some pretty horrid things
1 person likes this
@atoz1to10 (6780)
• Australia
9 Jan 17
We have the same believe in our culture. But we celebrate Chinese new year. So, to stop having some one bringing bad luck to my family, every year, before 12am, I will leave my house, and I often drive around somewhere, then after 12 I come back home... So I am the first person to put foot into the house. Having bad luck or good luck, I only have myself to blame. With your believe, why don't you ask a male person from your family to be that person.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502487)
• Italy
10 Jan 17
@atoz1to10 NOT the first of the year, they bring bad luck, at least this is what our superstition says. Anyway the etiquette about who enter first is a bit complicated. Men should always enter first in restaurant and public places, not to expose the women to potential dangers. In the private house it depends, if you go to see friends and the woman is "only" the wife of YOUR friend, he must enter first and then let his wife in.
@atoz1to10 (6780)
• Australia
10 Jan 17
@LadyDuck Can't women be the first one to step inside the house?
1 person likes this
