It was a first for me – a Staunton version of “First Footing”. The party we attended had a kilt clad, Scotch pouring host at the door and lots of delicious food.
Some of the tasty treats were Beef Hand Pies – all of the foodie photos are from all recipes.com because Hubby thought taking photos during the party was bad form. I know I could have been subtle, but alas….
Roasted Beet Salad – do you know how dietetic beets are? I need to eat them more this year.
then there were the not so dietetic, but delicious Scottish shortbread….
and Raspberry Trifle – be still my heart….
A description of the tradition in Scotland, of course there are some variations…
First Footing is the custom of house visiting to bring luck for the New Year. Traditions vary slightly but it is widely accepted that the most auspicious first-footer should be a dark haired man and he should carry items to represent prosperity for the future (such as coal to represent warmth, salt for wealth and bread for food). The visitor in return is given a small glass of whiskey.
It might have been helpful to read what the traditional gifts were prior to attending, I took a bottle of wine. I suppose my gift is a wish for a jolly good time in 2013.