Christmas Tree and Carolers at the Washington Monument

"First footing," shouts the first person to enter your home on Christmas morning.

It is quite important who first comes through your doorway, and woe be unto

the household if you enter a certain home without bringing something with you, even

a piece of coal for the fire, for without some object to bestow upon the homestead

you bring them unhappiness...James Napier [in Folklore in West Scotland] tells us

that in western Scotland nothing was permitted to be taken out of the house that day

except presents. Servants and members of the family who left the house also brought

something back with them. Every piece of coal, stick of wood or garden stuff brought

good luck to the household, and to omit these courtesies was tantamount to wishing

a curse on the family. A flat-footed person (or a plain soul, as he was called) was an

unlucky first-footer, as was also a pious, sanctimonious person, whereas a hearty,

ranting, merry fellow was considered the best sort of first footer. It was necessary for

luck that that which was poured by the first footer (whiskey or other drink) must be

drunk to the dregs and others must do the same by theirs."

-- from 1001 Christmas Facts and Fancies by Alfred Carl Hottes

'Now brothers lift your voices,

And laugh and dance and sing,

For all the world rejoices

That Christ the Lord is King.

With joy in him to arm you

The Devil cannot harm you:

So, brother, laugh and sing,

That Christ the Lord is King.

Poor Satan, you can hear him,

Is raging down in hell,

For now there's none to fear him,

And none to wish him well.

The fires that he was keeping

Are on his footsteps creeping:

So, brother! laugh and sing

That Christ the Lord is King.

And fiercer now and faster

The flames come roaring in

On him that was their Master,

On Satan, prince of sin.

Then, brother, as he lies there,

Then, brother, as he dies there,

Come laugh and dance and sing --

That Christ The Lord is King.'

So, Brother by A.A. Milne,

a paraphrase of the Besancon Carol Fesans raijouissance.

The Oxford Book of Carols, 1928

Day 'til Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Jolly Year 2001!