My mom and grandparents would always tape a penny to the box of a pocket knife or set of steak knives that I received over the years. Mom said the penny protected from the possibility of cutting off the relationship. Did she make that up?
2006-06-06 02:53:35 · 11 answers · asked by JB 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
In ancient times, giving someone a blade was often an order to commit suicide. If one refused to kill themselves, they were summarily executed. By giving a small amount of money with the blade, it made it obvious that it is simply a gift.
2006-06-06 02:58:09 · answer #1 · answered by Black Fedora 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The penny represents protection. Helps to "Not to cut the friendship"
In some countries it is traditionally believed that the giving of a knife as a gift to a friend will cut or sever the relationship. To avoid such ill luck, the receiver should give a coin in return so as to "pay" for the gift. It is common to include a penny, often taped to the blade, with a knife given as a gift which the receiver is to return as "payment".
2006-06-06 02:56:53 · answer #2 · answered by jinx4swag 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a Chinese tradition from the expression, "Yi Tao Liang Tuan" which means 'the knife that cuts the united into 2'. As such, it is a bad omen for 2 persons relationship when one gives the other a knife.
You are supposed to take the penny and return it to the giver as a payment. By giving the penny back (or giving your own penny) you are 'purchasing' the knife and therefore neutralizing the potential bad luck.
The only reason why a penny is given is to avoid a situation where the recipient doesn't have loose change. The reason why it is a penny is obvious - the recipient would be unwilling to give more money in return for a gift.
2006-06-06 03:01:00 · answer #3 · answered by Son of Gap 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your grandmother did not make it up. The convention is that the gift of a knife may cut the invisible tie connecting the friends or family members. So when someone gives you a blade as a gift, you should (the custom goes) buy it with a symbolic coin (the smallest denomination of coinage in any given historical place, so for us in the USA, a penny).
The exact origins of this custom are not known, but it may interest you to know that there is evidence it may be at least 500 years old, and may indeed go back to antiquity.
2006-06-06 02:58:33 · answer #4 · answered by snowbaal 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The giving of a knife as a gift to someone is believed to sever the relationship. To avoid such ill luck, the receiver should give a coin in return so as to "pay" for the gift. It is common to include a penny, often taped to the blade, with a knife given as a gift which the receiver is to return as "payment".
2006-06-06 02:57:11 · answer #5 · answered by sndsouza 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well this certainly explains why the relationship between my hubby's stepmom went from bad to worse..... knife given with no coin involved... Hmmmm what do we do with this knife. I just have it put away somewhere. I don't believe his father had anything to do with the gift giving as he was rather frail at the time, but things certainly went bad really really bad until my dear father in law passed, but it was so bad in the how she treated my husband that we moved 2000 miles away while he was ill. (There was nothing we could do for him and she made visiting him at home near impossible for my husband and I wasn't allowed at all. Sorry about this answer but it certainly sheds some light on a bad situation. I think that unless you really want to sever the relationship I would make certain the coin was always presented with it... Good Question here!!!
2006-06-06 03:12:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have always been told that you can never give a knife away, it has to be bought by the other person. So when you do give a knife to someone or vice a versa, a penny has to be exchanged so the new owner won't cut themselves.
2006-06-10 18:24:51 · answer #7 · answered by bigjfry 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know that if you give knives you must first make sure they are sharp. I haven't heard the penny rule.
I know that if you give a wallet or purse that you include at lease a penny so that the recipient will never be moneyless.
2006-06-06 02:57:19 · answer #8 · answered by csucdartgirl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, she didn't, that's what my mum told me too.
You can never give anyone a knife, because that would mean it would cut up the relationship. You have to buy it.
2006-06-06 02:56:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its an old superstiotiouse way of giving people gifts, especially knives.or blades.
2006-06-06 03:04:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋