A pinch
and a punch . . .
. . . for the first of the month, and no returns of any kind.
A kick
and a slap for answering back, and no returns of any kind.
A pinch
and a kick for being so quick, and no returns of any
kind.
A punch in the eye for being so sly, and no returns of any kind.
‘and no returns of any kind’ is redundant because someone will always try to outdo you, even if you add 'White rabbits.'
Do children still repeat these sayings or are they too sophisticated for such nonsense? I must enquire among the younger members of the family. If they do follow the tradition, I hope they remember that all the pinching, punching and other physical assaults must be conducted before noon, just as April Fool’s tricks must not be continued after midday.
Where did the saying originate? There are three possibilities. One is that it derives from an old fertility charm to invoke pregnancy. This theory raises a number of questions. Does the woman pinch the man, to wake him up to his duty or does the man punch the woman, claiming his conjugal rights?
No, I don’t like that scenario.
In mediaeval times, people believed in witches and were afraid of them. They believed that salt weakened them, so would take a pinch of salt to throw on a suspected witch and then punch her to make her go away. I wonder how many poor souls were treated in this way, living in fear and abject misery because of the way they looked or behaved.
The third theory I have come across attributes the deed to George Washington (1732-1799) though not in quite the way it is conducted today. It is said that during his presidency, (1789 to 1797) he would meet with Native American tribes on the first day of each month, and supply them with fruit punch with an added pinch of salt. Why he would do that is not explained, and the theory is unverifiable.
I think the second explanation of superstitious people abusing ‘witches,’ seems the most likely.
I hope no-one
forgot to say ‘White Rabbits’ first thing!
