After midnight strikes on the 32st December and New Year's Day is upon us, the character of the first visitor of the New Year, according to superstition, sets the stage for the household's fortune over the coming 12 months.
Don't answer the door to any old Tom, Dick or Harry, as they say in the UK. Custom says that the official first-footer should ideally be a tall, well-made chap and for optimum good fortune, dark and swarthy to boot. Even in medieval times, it transpires, redheads were given a hard time, though neither was it considered good luck for the first-footer to be a doctor, lawyer, minister or cop.
Be sure to take measures that your first visitor of 2011 is not wearing black, carrying a knife or sharp-edged tool. He ought to be bearing gifts, including intriguing specifics of a loaf, a bottle of whiskey, a piece of coal or firing and a silver coin.
What's more, he must enter without speaking and don't be tempted to make a peep in welcome until he has lit the fire, poured a glass for the head of the household and wished everyone at home a Happy New Year.
Wandering the historic square in Sonoma one late, foggy evening this last week of the year I stumbled across a splendid new boutique tucked away on a sidestreet close to the celebrated and sublime Cafe la Haye. The windows of Kingston Ellis were dressed to the nines for New Years, in the fashion of London's Bond Street finest outfitters.
Snapped a few shots on the iphone, to share and as the store was closed for the night I've made a note to self to make a bee-line for a browse next time I'm in town.
A toast to 2011 and many more adventures together through Southern Sonoma County.
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