Christmas is coming and ideas about Gifts for Christmas are topping the search queries as people start looking for gifts for their family, friends, and colleagues. The race is on, and the gifts have to be perfect, right, or even unusual! Sorting the right gift out from all the options can be a challenge, but don't let superstition cloud your judgement.

You've probably heard that old adage that "to give a knife is bad luck?” If you do not heed this and gift a knife anyway, you’ll need to temper the gift with some money, otherwise the friendship will be severed.

This "wisdom" is based entirely on superstition, possibly dating back to the Vikings who were a little touchy about being given knives for free. A mixture of ego and Viking etiquette fueled this, and no Viking worth his berserker battle rage, would accept a knife as a gift. Especially if this gift was superior to his own and one that he couldn't afford or win in battle. So, in order to be able to give a fine knife without ending up being skewered by the gift, the knife was "sold" really cheaply, and everyone rejoiced, and no blood was spilled.

The problem with old sayings is that they hang around long after their useful application has passed into history. Have you met any Viking Berserkers lately and wanted to give them a knife? Today the only thing a knife may sever is the red bow that you are trying to tie on (note to the wise make sure that you get a sheath for the knife too).

If we are going to be wary of the action of the gift (yes, a knife can sever) then taking the same logic from the knife superstition makes other gifts unsuitable too…

Then we would not give cars as gifts because surely the person will drive us crazy.

Or don't give money because they won't spend any time with you.

Rings won't work either because they will rap you around their fingers.

How about computers, they won't be able to process how much they mean to you.

Giving a watch means that the person's time is running out!

Silly right? So, it is time to leave the knife gift = bad luck thinking in the past where it belongs.

For the right person, a knife is the greatest gift you could gift. Given to an older person, it is a real sign of respect. For a younger person, it is a symbol of being recognized as an equal among peers, and of responsibility and trust. Knives have always been gifted in recognition of leadership, both future potentials, and in recognition of achievements past. A knife presented to someone in a time of strife shows that they are cared for, and it conveys the hope of a future reunion, safeguarding their survival until it is safe once more.

How do you know if the person you are thinking of would appreciate the gift of a knife?

If they like camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, sailing, snorkeling or any outdoor sport for that matter, a knife is a great gift. Knives are really handy to have around and there are endless outdoor or in-the-field tasks where a knife will save the day.

If they like crafts, cooking, woodwork, building, collecting, or even eating, a knife is always handy to have around.

However, if they have some Viking ancestry then you can possibly keep looking for another gift for Christmas or include a penny to be safe.