430
Catalogue of Brand Material.
Woman must not enter house at all on Christmas Day, but sleep there overnight . - .
Nor may she receive gifts Door locked to prevent
women entering - Dark-haired man or boy
lucky - - - -
Light or red hair unlucky -
Permissible on emergency - Unlucky to be first wished merrj^ Christmas by fair man - - - - First Foot usually pre- arranged ; if not, first who brings evergreen admitted Nothing brought in (unlike New Year) - - - Lucky Bird rewarded with coin (to ensure luck), food (usually Yule-cake and cheese), and drink (usually mead or sweet wine) - - - -
Questions asked and answered ; " bread, salt, and groat " given First Foot enters by front door, leaves by back
No one ma^^ leave house before First Foot enters
East Yorksh., Derbysh.,
Hereford. East Riding.
West Yorksh.
North Riding, Swaledale, and General.
North Derbysh., Shef- field, Huddersfield, Flamboro'.
West Yorksh.i
East Riding.
East and West Ridings. Swaledale.
Pickering, Whitby, East Riding.
East Riding.
North Derbysh., Shef- field, Huddersfield, Oswestry,^ Herefordsh.
Filey.
^The authorities as to the "luck" of dark or light hair in the East and West Ridings are somewhat confused and contradictory. First-hand evidence from correspondents is greatly desired.
^ Must enter every room in house.
