Viking or Hun, Zulu or Apache - humanity in the raw, is pretty raw.
‘Miklegard’ - so that’s where that expression mickle (many) comes from up north. From visitors. Many a mickle, makes a muckle.
When I was up there once, I was told about something called ‘first footing’; for good luck, the first person through your front door after the New Year should be dark haired. The idea is, if you see a blond stranger at your door - it’s not a sign of good luck.
What stuck in my mind was, they are all pretty dark up there, compared to their neighbors, having migrated from southern Europe way up north. So visitors would stick out. I guessed that was the basis for the custom, but would be interested to hear more.
Viking or Hun, Zulu or Apache - humanity in the raw, is pretty raw.
‘Miklegard’ - so that’s where that expression mickle (many) comes from up north. From visitors. Many a mickle, makes a muckle.
When I was up there once, I was told about something called ‘first footing’; for good luck, the first person through your front door after the New Year should be dark haired. The idea is, if you see a blond stranger at your door - it’s not a sign of good luck.
In Istanbul or Norway?
Scotland.
First footers need to bring a piece of coal with them, no? Presumably blondes stay at home till it’s all over.
If you’re not dark-haired you carry the piece of coal to make yourself the dark man. My dad used to do this in North Wales in the 1960s.
You would know, I just heard about once.
What stuck in my mind was, they are all pretty dark up there, compared to their neighbors, having migrated from southern Europe way up north. So visitors would stick out. I guessed that was the basis for the custom, but would be interested to hear more.
A week today, you may be able to bring out your Battle of Hastings stuff.