First-Foot Tradition - Does a Dark Cat Count?
By Anna
@LadyDuck (472097)
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
95 people like this
103 responses
@DaddyEvil (137636)
• 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
@DaddyEvil (137636)
• 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. 
11 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (108144)
• 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.
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 (472097)
• Switzerland
1 Jan 22
@wolfgirl569 Same here, if the mailman has nothing to deliver I can go weeks before to see someone coming to our home.
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 (108144)
• 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
6 people like this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• 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
@DocAndersen (54402)
• 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 (472097)
• 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.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (182189)
• United States
1 Jan 22
Hey, I think that counts if you want it to..
. Happy New Year Anna!!
. Happy New Year Anna!!5 people like this
@xFiacre (13144)
• 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 (472097)
• 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
@1creekgirl (41731)
• 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.
5 people like this
@DianneN (247186)
• 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
@Dena91 (16688)
• 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
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 Year5 people like this
@LadyDuck (472097)
• 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
@cacay1 (83577)
• 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.2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40320)
• 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 (472097)
• 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 (40320)
• 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!
3 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• 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!
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!1 person likes this
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.@LadyDuck (472097)
• 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.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• 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.
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.1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• 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.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (472097)
• 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
@sharonelton (29317)
• 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 (472097)
• Switzerland
3 Jan 22
@sharonelton - No, I do not believe that it counts for those who live in the house.
2 people like this
@sharonelton (29317)
• 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?
2 people like this
