First-Foot Tradition - Does a Dark Cat Count?

Our Holidays Table

@LadyDuck (458212)

Switzerland

January 1, 2022 7:48am CST

The "first foot" is the first person who enters the home on the first day of the year. This tradition slightly varies from country to country. In Scotland and North England, a tall, dark-haired man is considered a sign of good luck for the year to come. In the north of Italy we have a similar tradition. We hope to see a man coming in as "first foot" to have good luck, it does not matter if dark-haired, but better if he is wearing a uniform. This morning when I opened the door, Gevi the cat (a tuxedo cat) rushed inside for food and cuddles. As I am a bit superstition, I would like to think that a male cat is as good as a male human. What do you think? Any New Year traditions to share with us? Happy New Year to all myLotters

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105 responses

@DaddyEvil (137142)

• United States

1 Jan 22

Happy New Year, Anna... I would think a male cat would be just as good as a male human in this instance. I hope he does bring you and your hubby good luck for this year. (I would give him extra scratches and food, just to make sure.

)

16 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

Happy New Year to you and to Pretty. I gave him extra food, he came back inside half an hour ago and he is now sleeping in the living room.

11 people like this

@DaddyEvil (137142)

• United States

1 Jan 22

@LadyDuck If JJ was still around we could ask him if letting a black cat step into his house on January 1 was good or bad luck.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

I am sure that if he does not let Scar inside it's not very good for him.

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@wolfgirl569 (95188)

• Marion, Ohio

1 Jan 22

I think the cat is even better.

My Houdini is holed up somewhere as we are getting rain this morning. I have been out and back in does that mean anything.

8 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

I also think that the cat is even better. I do not believe that the owner of the house counts, it must be someone who does not live permanently in the house. Gevi is all the time outside, I think this counts.

6 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

Same here, if the mailman has nothing to deliver I can go weeks before to see someone coming to our home.

5 people like this

@wolfgirl569 (95188)

• Marion, Ohio

1 Jan 22

@LadyDuck It might be days here before someone else steps in so I will go with the cat counting. If he gets a chance to come out of hiding because of the rain

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@Juliaacv (48447)

• Canada

1 Jan 22

I hope that Gevi brings you good luck for 2022. I was not aware of this tradition. Our son is very tall, but not really dark haired, I wonder if that is why his mother-in-law always asked for him and his wife to come over on New Years Day.

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@Juliaacv (48447)

• Canada

1 Jan 22

@LadyDuck That could be, they are also very close, so that could explain it too.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

@Juliaacv - My grandmother was the one to keep old traditions alive.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

This tradition is followed in many European countries. May be this is the reason why the mother-in-law of your son asks them to visit on New Year's Day.

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@marlina (154166)

• Canada

1 Jan 22

I never heard of this particular tradition, interesting!

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@marlina (154166)

• Canada

1 Jan 22

@LadyDuck , Really!

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

@marlina Grandmother had some superstitions, she was born in 1893, very old generation.

4 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

@marlina It is a popular tradition in several northern European countries. The mother of my father got mad if the first to come inside on New Year's Day was a woman.

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@CarolDM (203452)

• Nashville, Tennessee

1 Jan 22

Such a beautiful setting you have here. Happy New Year to my friend. We always cook black eyes peas for New Year's.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

Thank you Carol and Happy New Year to you too. We cook lentils for New Year, I had lentils today.

4 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

@CarolDM The day is reaching the end and nothing bad happened. I consider this a good start.

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@CarolDM (203452)

• Nashville, Tennessee

1 Jan 22

@LadyDuck Thank you, glad your day is going well.

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@DocAndersen (54411)

• United States

1 Jan 22

well i learned something, not a tradition I had heard of. I would agree with you (I think cats and dogs count!!!)

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

May be the tuxedo cat is even better than a human. I suppose that the first human will be the mail man.

4 people like this

@DocAndersen (54411)

• United States

1 Jan 22

@LadyDuck our's based on this tradition I just learned was our neighbor, he was inviting me over for the game this evening (the rose bowl a US Football game)

4 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

2 Jan 22

@DocAndersen - I remember how people were excited about the rose bowl when we used to be in the United States for the New Year.

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@snowy22315 (169973)

• United States

1 Jan 22

Hey, I think that counts if you want it to..

. Happy New Year Anna!!

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

Thank you and Happy New Year to you. I want that this counts, cats are better than many humans.

3 people like this

@rebelann (111186)

• El Paso, Texas

1 Jan 22

Happy New Year. Yes, I think he will do the trick. Dang, the only male to come into my home is Roscoe, but he lives here so does he count?

5 people like this

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@rebelann (111186)

• El Paso, Texas

1 Jan 22

Ahh, I did not think of that. Well, at least I should not have bad luck but who knows if I will have good luck.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

@rebelann If Roscoe does not bring inside too much mud, this is good luck.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

Happy new Year Ann. I think that Roscoe counts and if no one comes to your home, you cannot have bad luck after all.

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@xFiacre (12598)

• Ireland

1 Jan 22

@ladyduck I think a male cat in a tuxedo would be an excellent first-footer. My wife is just about to acquire a new cat after her other 2 cats were drowned by some cruel, spiteful person in November. I hope she doesn’t think that she’ll be able to get a new cat every new year. Happy new year to you and your husband. I hope 2022 is a wonderful year for you both.

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

@xFiacre Happy New Year to you and to your wife. I hope your wife can find a cat she loves. I remember what happened to your two cats, some humans are horrible, poor kitties. The cat in tuxedo is now sleeping in the living room, well fed and cuddled.

5 people like this

Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (40523)

• United States

1 Jan 22

The only tradition we have here is cooking black eyed peas on New Years Day. I didn't have any so I guess it's a good thing we're not superstitious! But we do love black eyed peas with fried potatoes and ham.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

2 Jan 22

For us it is lentils the first day of the year. As we both like and I had lentils at home, I prepared them. We also both wore "something new" on the first day of the year.

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Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (40523)

• United States

2 Jan 22

@LadyDuck Cool!

2 people like this

@DianneN (246838)

• United States

1 Jan 22

Gevi counts in my book, especially if he’s dressed to the nines in a tuxedo. No traditions here except that we haven’t missed the ball drop in Times Square since our first New Year’s Eve together. That’s our tradition. Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your husband, Anna!

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

Bubi also came inside later, so I had to boys coming in, this will be a good year.

Happy and Healthy New Year to you and to your husband also Dianne, let's the good things continue.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

2 Jan 22

@DianneN Thank you Dianne, gold this year as it was our 50th wedding anniversary.

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@DianneN (246838)

• United States

1 Jan 22

Love it! I hope so, too. Love your table setting, too!

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@Dena91 (15860)

• United States

1 Jan 22

Gevi helped with your tradition

There are traditions that I saw others do but I don't. My Nana would burn a candle on New Years day to bring good luck to the new year. I think that is a northern tradition because no one in the south has heard of it. Mike's Mom always has black eyed peas and collard greens on New Years day as it is suppose to bring luck and money in the new year. I never heard of this while growing up in the north part of our country. Happy New Year

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

1 Jan 22

Happy New Year to you and to your husband Dena. We have lentils instead of black eyed peas in the north of Italy. I cooked them for lunch. Yesterday evening we had grapes and pomegranates, all old traditions passed to me from my grandmother.

4 people like this

@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

1 Jan 22

My first footer was Mr H, the all black cat, and he wanted his breakfast!

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

2 Jan 22

I did not doubt that Mr H. would have come for the first breakfast of the year. Happy New Year.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

2 Jan 22

@Ronrybs - We need peace more than everything.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

2 Jan 22

@LadyDuck Happy New Year and a peaceful one

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@LotusEyes (2716)

• India

1 Jan 22

Happy New Year. Enjoy your day

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

2 Jan 22

Thank you and Happy New Year to you.

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@LotusEyes (2716)

• India

2 Jan 22

@LadyDuck Thank you so much

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@cacay1 (83223)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

2 Jan 22

what a kitty, so innocent. He's after of his hunger. I don't have idea about that superstition. We don't have like that here. About the cat it symbolizes luck for cat belongs to family tiger and we're now in year of the TIGER.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

2 Jan 22

The Chinese New Year that start on February 1st will be the year of the Tiger. I love those animals.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

2 Jan 22

@cacay1 Let's hope, even if humans never learn.

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@cacay1 (83223)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

2 Jan 22

@LadyDuck Let's hope for a better world and end of the virus.

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@DeborahDiane (40055)

• Laguna Woods, California

15 Jan 22

I love this New Year's tradition! Yes, I definitely think the tuxedo cat counts as the First Foot!

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

16 Jan 22

I want to believe that the tuxedo cats is good enough to bring luck. As I let no visitors inside the home, he will be the only one for a pretty long time.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

17 Jan 22

@DeborahDiane We only had repair people coming inside and it was for the annual inspection of our furnace. We will have friends in late Spring, because we will receive them outside in the garden.

3 people like this

@DeborahDiane (40055)

• Laguna Woods, California

16 Jan 22

@LadyDuck - I agree. We do not let visitors in our home, either. The only people who have come here have been family members, occasionally, and often out on the patio. Other than that, we have had a couple of repair people over the past two years. The fewer people, the better!

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****DANIELLE****

@VivaLaDani13 (60355)

• Perth, Australia

7 Aug 22

@LadyDuck Interesting. I've not heard of all this before. In my experience, some tall dark haired males seem to cause me issues and make me feel unlucky.

I'd take a male cat over any male human right now. Heck, I'd take a male snake over a male human right now! I don't have any New Year traditions. I'm quite basic and don't really do anything special. I really LOVE the photo. The set up is so beautiful!

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

8 Aug 22

A male snake never, I cannot stand snakes, but a black cat is fine for me, as I like cats. We always have a nice dinner only the two of us, we do not go out anymore to celebrate the holidays.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

16 Aug 22

@VivaLaDani13 Snakes scare me, even those I know are not venomous, I prefer to stay away from most reptiles. Black cats are lovely, I love their big green eyes, the only color different on their face. Thank you for the compliment. I put the table like this every evening for our dinner. Not the golden plates, but the table cloth and the rest always.

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****DANIELLE****

@VivaLaDani13 (60355)

• Perth, Australia

15 Aug 22

@LadyDuck I am scared of snakes and not fond of them myself. Still rather than over the hurt of a human male. Recently been hurt by one.

Black cats are so cute. All cats are so cute. I love those flat faced cats too. CUTE! The effort put into your table is just as good (or ever better) than restaurants I've seen! It's so beautiful and pleasant.

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@LindaOHio (156276)

• United States

2 Jan 22

Happy New Year! I think that the male cat qualifies as the "first foot". We have a tradition of eating pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day for good luck.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

2 Jan 22

Happy New Year Linda. I am sure that the lovely cat counts. Our tradition is pork and lentils.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

3 Jan 22

@LindaOHio I often wonder why we only eat lentils on the first day of the year, they are a good source of proteins and vitamins.

2 people like this

@LindaOHio (156276)

• United States

2 Jan 22

@LadyDuck That's good too!

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@sharonelton (25012)

• Lichfield, England

3 Jan 22

Nobody came into our house on the first day of the year. We stayed in all day and no strangers visited - not even a cat!

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

3 Jan 22

Only the cat visited, no humans until now.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

3 Jan 22

@sharonelton - No, I do not believe that it counts for those who live in the house.

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@sharonelton (25012)

• Lichfield, England

3 Jan 22

@LadyDuck No-one has visited here yet. Tomorrow I will go to the shop and then I will come back in - that'll be the first time. Does it count if someone goes out and comes back again?

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@JimBo452020 (42629)

• United Kingdom

2 Jan 22

We take a lump of coal when we first foot here in Scotland Anna. To help keep those in attendance warm. Sadly the people we went to did not have a coal fire So I brought the coal home And the coal all the other guests brought. Yay for me

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

2 Jan 22

We are particularly happy if a chimney sweeper come to visit the first day of the year. They are considered a sign of good luck. I suppose it is because of the coal that you are mentioning here.

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@LadyDuck (458212)

• Switzerland

2 Jan 22

@JimBo452020 - I love the tuxedo cat, he does not want to live inside, but we bought a house cat that is under our porch, he sleeps there and stay warm. He comes inside three times every day to have his food.

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@JimBo452020 (42629)

• United Kingdom

2 Jan 22

@LadyDuck But give me the Black Cat anyway. I will look after it well.

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