Gift of knives or scissors

[mrsmop]

I am giving my son some chefs knives for Christmas. I can remember my Mum saying that if you gave someone a gift of knives or scissors they would have to give you a coin in return or the friendship would be cut. Anyone heard of this?

[mediahelp]

perhaps, as it is christmas, he could give you a chocolate coin, so that the friendship would remain in tact and keep in the festive season!

hope this helps mrs mop

[dr john]

The usual way around this superstition is to include a coin in the gift so the recipient can give it back to you. Bit pointless really, but as Niels Bohr once said about hanging up horseshoes, it apparently works whether you believe in it or not.

[heathfield]

The reason for obtaining a coin is so that the person is 'buying' the gift. There's a superstition that simply giving a knife will bring bad luck by cuttting off a friendship. Also, by simply giving, you could be hoping the person will injure themselves. But if they 'buy' it, then that's different altogether.

[nanagedon]

i like this idea do you think you could apply that to all gifts. he he.