Water and hard work: The Romani take on the First Footing tradition
how the Roma welcome the New Year with both optimism and clarity
One of the most fascinating things about the human race is how traditions can transcend borders. Have you ever heard of an obscure custom and when you look it up and dig a little deep you discover it’s practiced by many nations and communities - seemingly disconnected - over the world?
Of course, this also leads to some one-upping along the lines of “We invented it and you stole it.” And while it sure is intriguing to discover the origins of specific customs, we will not be focusing on origins and ownership today. We are, after all, a Romani publication, and in honor of the Romani spirit for celebrating other cultures, for our first article in 2025 we will talk about a Winter holiday custom practiced in multiple countries - including by the Roma.
The first person to enter your home
The custom (and the belief behind it) is simple and very intuitive.
On the first day of the new year, or - depending on the country - on Christmas or a another specific day during the winter holiday season, the person who first walks through your door sets the tone for the year ahead. In other words, this person either brings good fortune, or the exact opposite.
Of course, people didn’t leave this up to chance so there are many different rituals across countries ensuring that this first step through the door is done right.
First Footing in Scotland
In the Anglo-Saxon world, this custom is called “first footing” and has been practiced in Scotland, Northern England, and the Isle of Man for centuries - possibly originating from ancient winter solstice rituals.
After midnight, in the first minutes of the first day of the new year, every home awaits its first footer. According to the custom, this person should be male, tall, and dark-haired. It is believed that this specific requirement emerged in the times of the Viking invasions, when a blonde man at your door meant trouble.
The first footer should also not show up empty handed, but bring coal, bread, and whiskey which symbolize abundance for the home for the entirety of the upcoming year.
It was customary for tall dark-haired men to take on this task on New Year’s and do the rounds in their communities after midnight, for which they were very much welcomed and rewarded.
If you’re interested in the Scottish first-footing tradition, we recommend this very detailed and well-sourced blog post and this personal account of practicing the custom.
Pervy gost (first guest) in Russia
The same custom is followed in Russia, though there is much less written online about it than about the Scottish tradition.
There are no hair color preferences in Russia, and but there is still a requirement that the first guest does not show empty handed.
Polaznik in Eastern Europe
In Slavic countries, plus Greece, the first footing tradition is also centuries old, possibly with pagan roots, and practiced to this day. The first guest is called polaznik and the day he is welcomed is either on Christmas or one of the winter holidays linked to Christmas (like Ignazhden on December 20th here in Bulgaria, or St. Stephan’s Day in Poland.)
Christmas was outlawed in Scotland for about 400 years and many customs originally practiced for Christmas were moved to New Year’s Eve, including the first footing custom. This seems to be an ancient pagan Winter Solstice tradition from the two opposing corners of the European continent.
But back to Eastern Europe. The polaznik is welcomed in the home as a bringer of good fortune and treated with gifts such as clothes and home-baked bread. According to the custom in most countries, he has to light a fire and bless the family where by each spark of the fire symbolizes a piece of good fortune.
In some countries, like Slovenia, the polaznik has to be a child or a group of children.
The Romani polaznik
Here in Bulgaria, the Roma practice this custom very strictly - with their own twist.
The first footing happens after midnight on New Year’s Eve. Just like in the Scottish and most Slavic traditions, the person has to be male. He brings a bowl of water which is poured on the ground for good luck - something done also by Bulgarians for other occasions like going to an exam, or starting a new job, or getting married. “So that it goes as if on water,” or to translate it more accurately, “So that it flows” - this is the blessing that accompanies the ritual.
Whatever the thing is that we wish to “flow like water,” it is always implied that it will require an effort. It’s not just something that you’d hope to land in your lap. It’s something where you’re expected to show up and be a participant in your destiny.
And this is exactly how the Roma approach the New Year. Yes, they hope for good fortune and good luck but they expect to work for it.
This is even more pronounced in who they want to be first guest.
“A baxtalo man,” says Pepi.
Baxtalo means, quite literally, lucky.
“What makes a man lucky?” Martina asked. “Does he have to be rich?”
“It’s good if he has money,” Pepi says, “but it’s more important that he’s a hard worker.”
So, if you show up on New Year’s Day at a Romani door wearing gold and bearing gifts, the Roma will not consider it a good omen for them if what you own and bring was inherited, or stolen, or won “easily.”
If you work every day for your luck and fortune, then you are baxtalo and the Roma would welcome you and your energy into their home with the hope that you set the tone for their entire year ahead.
If you have faith, God will work with you. If you ask, God will work with you. If you take a step forward, God will work with you.
At the very core of the Romani faith stands the wisdom that God, all-powerful and capable of miracles, infuses magic in the day-to-day. He works with you. In Roma culture, you don’t sit and wait and pray for miracles. You work and work for them and you have faith that God will bestow his blessing. That things will work out.
From our piece “Walking with God: Romani faith and everyday miracles”
Like everywhere else, the first guest will also bestow blessings as he enters the door. The Romani blessings come in the name of Bango Vasil, the patron of their New Year (also called Vasilitza here in Bulgaria). Bango Vasil, according to the legend, limps down the road and ushers out everything bad - his limp having been caused by an injury when he rescued the Roma from death.
They don’t call him “Saint Vasil.” They call him “Bango Vasil” which translates to “crooked,” and “broken.” In all of the legends, Vasil is limping.
Why the focus on his limp? On the brokenness?
For the Roma, the sacrifice, the permanent debilitation, which came as a result of rescuing their lives, is what turns Vasil into their patron. It brings him closer to their human reality, one of constant peril, danger, and persecution. And now he’s an “other”, just like them - by the mere act of helping them.
From our piece “Feast and Forgive: A few sacred customs of the Romani New Year”
We all hope for good fortune when we open a new chapter in life.
Let’s borrow some wisdom from the Roma and, when we wish for everything good in the world, let’s also wish that we earn it. And let’s honor what breaks to protect us.