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!
It is not my habit to wake up saying 'white rabbit, white rabbit', but I think that I will tomorrow. America needs all the luck she can get this month.
ReplyDeleteCrossing everything for our cousins across the pond.🤞
DeleteI don't think anyone does this anymore, I haven't heard it in decades. That's probably a good thing because I remember from childhood some pinches and punches could be quite vicious.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember it with much pleasure, either.
DeleteFunnily enough I did wake up VeRy early this morning & lay there thinking it is November 1st today & said out loud to myself "White Rabbits". Then spent the next few minutes wondering if this rubbish EVER actually comes true ... we used to be told it would bring Good Luck for all the month!! (still waiting for that to kick in ...................)
ReplyDeleteI hope it works for you, Julie. 🐇
DeleteI'm not familiar with this. Is it a British saying/tradition?
ReplyDeleteIt is British in origin, but spread to other English-speaking countries, so I understand.
DeleteI always forget. Does it count if I say White Rabbits now?
ReplyDeleteNo, sorry. You have to say it first thing! Bomber pilots used to say it first thing every morning, I gather, so tomorrow would do. 😉
DeleteI've only ever said part of those lines, it's good to read it in it's entirety.
ReplyDeleteIt made the first day of the month memorable for some . . .
DeleteIn our family it was just "white rabbits" and I'd never heard the "Pinch Punch first of the month" until I was much older.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see where it might have come from
It's surprising to find that the things one thought everyone knew and experienced were unheard of in other parts of the country. It was certainly common in Kent.
DeleteRhymes and chants? Sorry to inform you but that is not the way to get pregnant.
ReplyDeleteTcha - there goes another tradition.
ReplyDeleteThis is all new to me and I am not young. I never heard of Pinch Punch first of the month
ReplyDeleteYou're not as brutal as us Brits!
DeleteMost interesting and none were part of my childhood life but later I learnt about about a pinch and a punch for the first of the month, and I think it has to done before noon. If my tenants return before I sleep, I will give the them a pinch and a punch. It will still be morning in your world, albeit not mine.
ReplyDeleteIt's always morning somewhere in the world.
DeleteI never heard of pinch and a punch. Only Rabbit, Rabbit. White Rabbit.
ReplyDeleteI think 'White rabbits' is a kinder way to greet a new month!
ReplyDeleteIt was always pinch, punch when I was growing up, but my husband still says " white rabbits " .
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
So do I!
DeleteI am never awake enough to say "White rabbits!" But we always used to do pinch, punch.
ReplyDeleteI always try to remember 'White rabbits' but it doesn't seem to make any difference to my life, or maybe it does and I haven't noticed, so things could be a lot worse . . .
DeleteI grew up in the southern United States and I've never heard of this. Obviously I am quite culturally deprived.
ReplyDeleteI rather doubt that.😀
Delete"Living in fear and abject misery because of the way they looked or behaved." nothing is new under the sun!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right.
DeleteBullying of those who are different is as old as mankind, sad to say, and it is still very much alive. As for those sayings..... Here in the United States, I've never heard any of these sayings. Some of us will say Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit on the first of each month immediately upon waking, but the only White Rabbit I know is the song based on Alice in Wonderland. Not only that, I have never heard of George Washington serving salty fruit punch to Native Americans on the first of each month. There is the story of Washington chopping down a cherry tree as a child and confessing, because he couldn't tell a lie. I think I like that one better.
ReplyDeleteSo many 'theories' prove to be unverifiable. I wonder who dreamt that one up?
DeleteI have never heard that.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be a British thing, probably best not exported to other countries.
DeleteWe never said either in my family, but the 'pinch and a punch' thing was in common use at school.
ReplyDeleteTrying to get in first was a challenge. Simple 'pleasures.'
DeleteYou pick the most fascinating topics. I haven't heard that phrase in a long time. Thanks Janice and Happy 1st Day of November!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't seem to have crossed the pond - probably just as well.
DeleteI've never heard any of these phrases.
ReplyDeleteYou probably never will again . . . 😁
DeleteI must ask younger members of the family about 'pinch punch first day of the month'. Growing up it was a popular (with some) ritual, especially at school!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
It's quite brutal, really.😂
DeleteWhy would George Washington do that? That sounds so odd!
ReplyDeleteIt does sound odd, and that's probably the reason it cannot be verified.
Delete