Traditions around the world for the New Year

[rusty]

I might not have this perfectly correct, but as a kid I remember that the first person to enter your house on New Years day had to come through the back door and carrying coal in their left hand.
Don't suppose anyone has any coal these days

Must be a northern tradition, never heard it before we moved up here a couple of years ago.

[Terpe]

Must be a northern tradition, never heard it before we moved up here a couple of years ago.

So you've heard that one Rusty?
Well we're north of London

It was a great tradition that also involved having a tot of something warming and alcoholic
You'd be surprised just how many people were running around with coal in their hand