A short amateur fiction film produced by the Newcastle & District Amateur Cinematographers Association (ACA), which takes a wry look at a folk custom celebrated in the North East and Scotland. On New Year’s Eve a husband is banished from his home with a packet of Saxa salt and a bundle of sticks and coal, joining other unfortunate local men bearing good luck gifts. They wait miserably outside in the cold until midnight when they can perform the ceremony of “first-footing” on New Year’s...

A short amateur fiction film produced by the Newcastle & District Amateur Cinematographers Association (ACA), which takes a wry look at a folk custom celebrated in the North East and Scotland. On New Year’s Eve a husband is banished from his home with a packet of Saxa salt and a bundle of sticks and coal, joining other unfortunate local men bearing good luck gifts. They wait miserably outside in the cold until midnight when they can perform the ceremony of “first-footing” on New Year’s Day. Title: The Northumbrian Custom of First Footing Title: The ceremony of First-Footing is traditionally performed by the dark-haired man … lest his friends do not call … Title: ‘England expects …’ Husband and wife are sitting in their armchairs reading newspapers in front of the gas fire, Christmas cards on the mantelpiece. Close-up of the Radio Times newspaper showing the programmes for “Sunday 31 New Year’s Eve”. A clock on the mantelpiece reads 3 minutes to midnight. A packet of Saxa salt is also placed on the mantelpiece. The wife suddenly jumps up and shakes her husband’s arm, hurrying him into his jacket and shoes. She shouts at him to take a bundle of coal and sticks. Then she remembers the packet of Saxa salt. Out in the hallway, the husband already has his coat and hat on as the wife bundles the Saxa salt into his hand. He walks out into the night to play his role as a first-foot, placing his symbolic gifts of salt and a bundle of sticks and coal at the doorstep. He pats his pocket where he’s got a bottle of whisky and hurries off. Three men are waiting beneath a street light in the dark on a cold New Year’s Eve. They are joined by the husband who’s just been ejected from home by his wife. All are waiting to perform their role as a first-foot, being the first person (usually a man) to cross the threshold of a house with gifts for good luck in the New Year! The men shake hands. The husband pulls out his bottle of booze. Close-up of a watch showing midnight. At the stroke of midnight, the men shake hands again, wishing each other a happy New Year, a small dog running up to the group and following one of the men as the group head off to different homes in the neighbourhood. A neighbour’s wife welcomes in two of the men who had been killing time beneath the street light until midnight, including the first husband, who, instead of returning home, accompanies his friend. She ushers them into the living room and thanks them for the gifts, placing a bundle of sticks on the hearth and the salt on the table. There are guests seated around the coffee table, two men drinking glasses of Newcastle Brown ale, one wearing a party hat. The first husband places a bottle of whisky on the table and joins the other party people. The Christmas tree is decorated and the guests are merrily enjoying the party. The whisky is poured and New Years’ greetings exchanged. The men and women raise their glasses for a toast. One of the men downs his glass of beer in one gulp. Close-up of the coffee table with empty glasses and bottles and half-eaten hors d'oeuvres. Another bottle of beer is poured. The guests continue their merry-making. A Smiths clock reads quarter to one in the morning. The first husband’s wife is quietly reading a book in the living room, two glasses and an unopened bottle of wine on the table beside her. She drums her fingers impatiently and looks at the clock, slamming down her book in exasperation. Back at the party house, everyone’s getting merrier and drunk, laughing, chatting and drinking in front of the Christmas tree. The hostess urges them on their way, two of the gents including the first husband much the worse for wear. He slips back into the room, unsteady on his feet, to pick up another man’s packet of Saxa salt and a bundle of sticks, then he leaves the house of the first hostess. The party of women and men make their way in the dark to a second home, where a woman welcomes in the merry group with a smile. (One of the gang may be amateur filmmaker George Cummin). The hallway light is turned off. Back at the first husband’s home, his wife is now asleep in the armchair. The time is 4 in the morning. Title: …several hours later … It is daylight. The first husband weaves his way down a suburban street, finally heading home. A young milkman passes him and beats him into the front garden of the husband’s house. The husband follows, shutting the gate. At the front door, the milkman finds the discarded Saxa salt and lumps of coal and sticks. He rings the bell, just as the husband staggers up behind him. The wife opens the door and invites in the milkman as her husband staggers around on the doorstep looking for his first-foot gift. “Well” she mouths in an annoyed manner. He picks up the milkman’s pints and closes the door.