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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel a bit weird about this gift now

59 replies

Pontingss · 18/01/2019 11:21

Sort of lighthearted I suppose... My boyfriend bought me a beautiful set of professional chef’s knives for Christmas which I mentioned to my DM to the other day. She looked horrified and said it was well known to be bad luck to receive knives as a gift. I’m not superstitious (apart from about magpies for some reason) but it has made me feel a bit weird. Has anyone else heard of this? Can I reverse the bad luck in any way?!

OP posts:
DobbinsVeil · 18/01/2019 11:25

I think the recipient of the knives traditionally gives the knife giver money to negate the bad luck. A penny a knife is fine!

Another similar one if you give a purse as a present it should have a coin in it.

peachypetite · 18/01/2019 11:26

Stop being ridiculous. If you were happy with them as a gift before, don't give it another thought.

LMBad · 18/01/2019 11:29

FFS how ridiculous. We are not living in the Middle Ages, I can’t believe people still believe this superstitious nonsense.

BuffyFan · 18/01/2019 11:29

Meh. We were given a set of knives for a wedding present. 15 years and three children later it doesn't seem to be having that bad an effect on us.

I appreciate that superstitions are important to some, but don't read too much into it.

FlaviaAlbia · 18/01/2019 11:31

DH bought me a leatherman knife for my birthday years ago. It's one of the best presents ever, it's so useful so I think it's more lucky to get one than not Grin

Tonightstheteriyakichicken · 18/01/2019 11:31

I thought that people used to say that about knives as a wedding gift being unlucky but that was decades' ago.
I would be thrilled with a set of top quality knives. EnvySmile

PurpleDaisies · 18/01/2019 11:32

Chop a load of sage with the knives. That wards off bad luck.

Disclaimer: I may have just made that up.

sherrysfortea · 18/01/2019 11:32

I would be chuffed to bits with this as a gift

MatildaTheCat · 18/01/2019 11:33

Throw some salt over your left shoulder. That should fix it. Wink

Parthenope · 18/01/2019 11:34

Your boyfriend gives you a ten p piece as well. That negates the bad luck (which is traditionally seen as because knives ‘cut’ friendship) of the knives, which I actually think are a great present.

Plantkween · 18/01/2019 11:35

It's said that a knife as a gift is meant to sever the relationship, traditionally the reciever would give the gift giver a penny so it was seen as a transaction rather than a gift.

icannotremember · 18/01/2019 11:36

Things my nana used to say- gloves are a parting gift, it's bad luck to open an umbrella in the house, crossed knives on the table will cause an argument, etc etc etc. It was all rubbish.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 18/01/2019 11:36

Stop overthinking this. Have never heard of such rubbish.

Kikipost · 18/01/2019 11:37

Don’t feel weird about the knives

Feel weird about your mum

Twirlo · 18/01/2019 11:38

Give him a penny for them

Loughers · 18/01/2019 11:38

Which bit of "lighthearted" did you miss ???

ElvisParsley · 18/01/2019 11:39

Get yourself a black cat. That'll fix everything.

Oh, and say Macbeth three times, whilst hopping in circles holding your nose, and beating yourself around the head. Or something like that anyway.

Whisky2014 · 18/01/2019 11:41

Come on, op. Really?

ThisTooShallPassInTime · 18/01/2019 11:42

This superstition comes from China where it is never ok to give someone a present with a blade as it symbolises the ending of a relationship and the cutting of ties.

I’d love DH to buy me some knives. I’m not superstitious at all and love him dearly, but I also like cooking Grin

newnameforthis7 · 18/01/2019 11:52

@Pontingss

My nana used to say it was bad luck to cut your toenails on a Friday or a Sunday.

I'm not kidding.

Obviously gobbledegook, like ALL superstition, because I cut my toenails last Sunday, and on Monday, I won a tenner on a scratchcard. Stitch that nana! Grin

MissingGeorgeMichael · 18/01/2019 11:53

You didn't know that so it doesn't count Grin

Missingstreetlife · 18/01/2019 11:54

A canteen of cutlery is a v common wedding gift?

Pontingss · 18/01/2019 11:54

Things my nana used to say- gloves are a parting gift, it's bad luck to open an umbrella in the house, crossed knives on the table will cause an argument, etc etc etc. It was all rubbish

Oh god he bought be some lovely leather gloves too Grin

OP posts:
Mosaic123 · 18/01/2019 11:57

There's also one about not giving someone a new purse or handbag without putting some money inside it. A penny will do.

MysteriesOfTheOrganism · 18/01/2019 12:03

And remember not to put your shoes on the table!

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