Lynn Lau
Northern News Services

Fort McPherson (Dec 31/01) - At 6 a.m. New Year's Day the party is on.

That's when the crowds of several dozen merrymakers start their door-to-door rounds -- a Delta tradition that has carried on through in Fort McPherson as long as 68-year-old Neil Colin can remember.

Early in the morning, the men gather on one side of town and the women gather on the other. From there they make their way toward the middle of town.

"They knock early in the morning and people scream 'Happy New Year!' and at every door you shoot a rifle in the air, and make a big noise. Young people like it," Colin says.

"Men go one side and women go one side and once they meet one another uptown, they tease one another and do things just to make fun, like throw one another in the snow."

The two crowds mingle for a while before carrying on in separate directions to cover the rest of town.

Some households are prepared with coffee and candy ready.

"Sometimes we stop and have coffee and have a smoke and go again," Colin says.

The merrymakers try to cover the whole town, but after two or three hours, it's time to go home and prepare for the evening's feast. Late in the afternoon, a truck comes around to pick up everyone's prepared food, and bring it to the recreation centre, where the feast is held.

After the feast, there's a big dance to cap the evening off.

Colin says he'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and "P.S. Take care! Thank-you."