BEGONE OLD YEAR-NEW YEAR COME IN. a traditional poem were i come from

I first remember hearing this from me Granma 50 years ago when I was put forward to do the traditional first footing at her house.

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begone old year

begone to you

begone with woe and poverty

begone to you.

new year new year

come in come in

with good cheer

we give to you

a warm welcome

come in come in .

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chanted by my Granma as she held the old broom and swept the old year out of the house and welcomed the new year in.

I did the first footing that year knocked on her door chunk of bread in one hand in the other a piece of coal.

thus all the family piled in and started the midnight party with drinking stories and old songs until the sunlight broke in. 

well that was ours and many families tradition in our part of Yorkshire gods own county