AUGUSTA – Old Fort Western, the national historic landmark fort, store and house museum on the riverfront, will host a New Year’s “First Footing” open house from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6.

First Footing is an ancient New Year’s Day tradition from North Britain and Scotland that may have been brought to Maine by Scots-Irish settlers such as the Howards at Fort Western.

Specifically, “first footing” refers to the foot step of the first visitor to a household on New Year’s Day. Ideally in the beginning, the first visitor would be a dark-haired male, but all visitors were welcomed and all were expected to bring a small gift for the homeowner – a piece of coal to ensure a warm home, a bit of cake or shortbread to ward off hunger, and maybe a coin for prosperity.

The visitor would be rewarded with a handful of ashes from the hearth to symbolize sweeping away the old year, a warming drink and good cheer.

Fort visitors are encouraged to bring a small stick of firewood if they have one, a bit of cake or a cookie, a little salt (another tradition), and if they see fit, a small donation. They will receive, in turn, a bit of the sweepings from the fort’s hearths, refreshments, a tour of the house (a more modern First Footing adaptation) and best wishes.

First Footing is one of a series of programs held on the first Sunday of the winter months at Fort Western. Call 626-2385 or go to www.oldfortwestern.org on the day of the program as necessary to confirm program status.