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, t…