Experience the Scottish New Year tradition of First Footin’ at Rural Hill on Monday, January 1, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rural Hill is at 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville.
Participants will walk the borders of the Historic Rural Hill property, in Huntersville, stopping together to listen to stories of history and folklore. The walk is about 2.25 miles, so wear comfortable shoes.
Sign up on Eventbrite to receive updates.
Following the “First Footin’” enjoy a warm bowl of vegetable soup catered by Savory Moments. You’re invited to bring canned goods to donate to Caterpillar Ministries. You’re also welcome to bring a picnic lunch.
Check out this list of things to do New Year’s Day in Charlotte!
The Walk
Wear good walking shoes and appropriate clothing for the season.
This will be a vigorous walk around the farm’s 2.25 mile trail, event, and historic sites, stopping along the way to discuss history and folklore.
If you’re not physically able to do the walk, please come anyway, and spend time in the Rural Retreat Cabin Site, which will be open for the occasion, and enjoy lunch.
The First Footin’ Tradition
At the end of the sixteenth century in Scotland, after the Protestant Reformation, celebration of religious holidays was frowned upon, so the celebration moved to New Year’s Day.
Hogmanay (pronounced Hog-muh-nay) because an important celebration that combined both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. It celebrated both good will and good fortune.
It was considered good luck for a household if the first person to set food in the doorway on New Year’s Day was a young man. Preferably one that was tall, handsome, healthy, dark-haired, dark-eyed, and bearing gifts.
Some towns in Scotland have annual ritual of walking the town limits to reclaim the boundaries of the township.
These traditions have become part of the Rural Hill Hogmanay celebration.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Charlotte on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It's also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
You might also be interested in:
More New Year’s Events
Check out our list of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day events around Charlotte, or look at a few of them here.
Charlotte on the Cheap is a member of 
