My father and his friends knocked on the doors of each other’s thresholds early on New Year’s Day. Once inside, they’d reach up to place a couple of quarters on the headers above the doors. They were carrying out two traditions at once — a man must be first to enter a house to bring good luck, and coins above the doorways offer prosperity and protection in the coming year. A glance up at these silvery rows never fails to pull a smile, and I pay homage here to the late Rederick C. Henderson (who traveled all over town with a pocket full od quarters being the first man for his friends) and Herbert Woodard, and to David Speight.

Are you familiar with these New Year traditions? What do y’all do?