'First Foot'

In Scotland the first person to cross the threshold in the New Year is called a 'first foot' and traditionally should be a tall dark man bringing gifts of coal and drink or food representing warmth, food and good cheer to bring good luck in the year. Some years if we had celebrated Hogmanay elsewhere we would be the first to enter our house. However on occasion one of our cats would be the first foot and one year our present was a dead mouse. I am not sure what sort of year we had after that as the cat was small and ginger coloured and not bearing the sort of food we appreciate.
(This a copy of the photo as they are no longer with us.)