Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 3, 1892.djvu/263

Rh It is obvious from all this that more information, and that more definite, is required before coming to any conclusion on the main question raised, whether the "first-foot" superstition is a survival of race hatred, or contempt for the fairer sex. Especially it is necessary to have more direct information derived from persons who can be further questioned, rather than from books, which probably tell all their authors know. The Editor of will, therefore, be glad to receive answers to the following series of questions about the "First-Foot":

1. Is any belief or custom associated with the first person who enters the house on New Year's Day (or any other specific day)? [Call such person First-Foot.]

2. Should the first-foot be man or woman?

3. Should the first-foot be dark or fair?

4. Is a red-haired first-foot considered very unlucky?

5. Is a flat-footed first-foot considered unlucky?

6. Must the first-foot bring any gift into the house?

7. What kind of things must be brought into the house on New Year's Day?

8. Must something be brought in on New Year's Day before anything can be carried out?

Answers to these questions, giving name and address of informant, should be sent to the Editor, at the office of, 270, Strand, before Aug. 1, marked First-Foot on the envelope.

Meanwhile we may proceed to print two papers on the subject that deal with it at some length; one by Prof. Rhys, who started the inquiry, and has collected further information about it, and the other an ingenious suggestion as to the origin of the custom, which was read before the Folk-lore Society.