diff --git a/hy/core/bootstrap.py b/hy/core/bootstrap.py
index dc38de0..45f5ae2 100644
--- a/hy/core/bootstrap.py
+++ b/hy/core/bootstrap.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 from hy.macros import macro
 from hy.models.expression import HyExpression
+from hy.models.integer import HyInteger
 from hy.models.symbol import HySymbol
 from hy.models.list import HyList
 
@@ -91,3 +92,14 @@ def threading_macro(tree):
         node.insert(1, ret)
         ret = node
     return ret
+
+
+@macro("car")
+@macro("first")
+def first_macro(tree):
+    tree.pop(0)  # "first"
+    ret = tree.pop(0)  # the list
+    # assert tree is empty
+    return HyExpression([HySymbol('get'),
+                         ret,
+                         HyInteger(0)])
diff --git a/tests/native_tests/language.hy b/tests/native_tests/language.hy
index b853337..b532353 100644
--- a/tests/native_tests/language.hy
+++ b/tests/native_tests/language.hy
@@ -170,3 +170,9 @@
   (def ret 0)
   (for [y (gen)] (def ret (+ ret y)))
   (assert (= ret 10)))
+
+
+(defn test-first []
+  "NATIVE: test firsty things"
+  (assert (= (first [1 2 3 4 5]) 1))
+  (assert (= (car [1 2 3 4 5]) 1)))