To feel a bit weird about this gift now

[Pontingss]

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?!

My mum was the same. I had to give her a penny or a pound or something from my purse (can’t remember, just any old coin) so she could give me a fancy knife set.

"Steel cuts friendship" used to be said... in Shakespeare's time.

You are not superstitious but want to know how to “reverse the bad luck”?

Hard to believe that it’s 2019, it really is.

If it bothers you, just give him a penny, which is the traditional counter. It wouldn't bother me in the least, but when superstitions do bother a person, the best and kindest thing to do is use whatever the alleged remedy is (unless that remedy is something unpleasant.)

I think it is anything that cuts in the supersticion - my Mum once gave me apair of dressmaking scissors for Christmas and insisted I give her a penny for them.

Other nonsense she (a scientist !) subscribed to included - shoes on the table (obviously unhygienic but also unlucky), spilling salt, magpies (we had to say 'where's yer mate' if we saw as single one)something about a darkhaired person being first over the threshhold after NYE (my dad used to have to go outside and come in again), opening umbrellas inside, and various others I forgotten.

All quite mad - just give your DP a penny if you are worried OP.

Why do people still believe this sort of fairytale nonsense?

Ooooh you shouldn't put new shoes on the table, or allow a black cat to cross your path, or drive a green car, or live in a house which is No 13, or all other manner of ridiculous superstitions. How can intelligent people actually believe that giving a gift of knifes brings bad luck???

In fact, the only sensible superstition out of the lot of them is not walking under ladders. Because there's a real risk of having something dropped on you from height.

My friend's husband bought her a set of knives for their first wedding anniversary.
Bloody bad luck for him.
Eejit.

"How can intelligent people actually believe that giving a gift of knifes brings bad luck???"

They can't.

I meant that very caringly OP.

Knives. Not knifes.

My friend was appalled that I did a load of washing on New Year's Day. Apparently that's a sign of impending Armageddon too.

A knife is always supposed to be exchanged for a silver coin

You got a lovely set of knives, you were pleased with them. Rewind to that bit and stop being silly!

Seriously, what? Drop it and grow up! Enjoy the knives

**I think the recipient of the knives traditionally gives the knife giver money to negate the bad luck

So this is why there was 20p taped to the bottom of a knife set we received asa wedding gift! I had no idea

I have never heard this one, which is surprising as my stepmother was full of superstitious old wives tales

This is why I'd prefer to be in ignorant bliss of other people's superstitions .. you know... just in case! My Greek ex-MIL was bloody full of them! We even had to change the day of our wedding from a Friday because it was bad luck not as bad as ending up with arseholetastic ex-DH

Oh shit! DH bought me a set of amazing, super-sharp, Japanese knives two Christmases ago.
It's a wonder I'm still here.
(Unfortunately they're so sharp I'm terrifed of using them and need to book myself onto a 'knife skills' cookery course. )

I've heard it said that giving knives is bad luck, but there is no rational explanation as to why. I ignore all superstition anyway.

Leather gloves and knives? Forget bad luck, he is clearly trying to recruit you as his serial killing accomplice. Which I suppose is kind of unlucky for you

I put two purses into the charity shop recently and I put a 50p coin in each one

But not in the handbags - they were Kipling and they're ££ so no money in them.

I have a set of knives my DParents gave me - they're trying to kill me , aren't they?

Just put some Stevie Wonder on to get over your superstitions, worked for Bros !

You are meant to pay for them so it's not a gift. Usually a silver coin.

Obviously I don't believe in the bad luck but I think traditions like this are nice to keep up just because.

Yes, I'd heard of this - it's in one of the Anne of Green Gables books (Anne's House of Dreams, I think) - the recipient should pay you a penny for them so they don't "cut your love".

Thumbwitch that's where I heard it from too

Leather gloves and knives? Forget bad luck, he is clearly trying to recruit you as his serial killing accomplice. Which I suppose is kind of unlucky for you

I work in a mortuary so I’m now wondering if he’s only with me so that I can dispose of the bodies!

@Grumpyoldblonde that Bros documentary was hilarious. Boyfriend and I now refer to the news as ‘the thinking man’s reality show’