Have you ever given, received, or saw anyone get a piece of coal as a Christmas

1. 71

   TheHoleStoryposted 9 years ago

   Have you ever given, received, or saw anyone get a piece of coal as a Christmas present?
   
   

   replyreport
2. 71

   Aime Fposted 9 years ago

   No, and I think it's terrible. It's one part of Christmas that I absolutely refuse to participate in - bribing kids to behave so they get presents. It's impractical for so many reasons. Plus being 'bad' is pretty subjective, I'd hate to see a kid just acting like a normal kid get a lump of coal for Christmas because his/her parents didn't like how they were acting.
   
   There's also the issue of associating good behaviour with getting stuff or bad behaviour with not getting stuff. I'd prefer my kid to behave well because she knows it's right, not so that she can get presents.

   replyreport
3. 68

   J - R - Fr13m9nposted 9 years ago

   Actually no. I have heard of the practice though. It seems quite "old fashioned" and "negative" to me.

   replyreport
4. 84

   FatFreddysCatposted 9 years ago

   I have seen packaged "coal" on sale in stores which is actually black-colored rock candy. I thought that was kind of clever.
   
   I've also seen bags of mini-marshmallows labeled as "snowman poop!"

   replyreport
5. 77

   jlparkposted 9 years ago

   I'm actually trying to find some. As a joke.
   
   I was in hospital for Christmas last year, due to bleeding at 26wks pregnant.
   
   I joked at the time that 'beany' (we didn't know gender) would be getting coal for their first Christmas (amongst al other toys and gifts) because they 'misbehaved'.
   
   My daughter will not understand, being 9mths,  but my family will get the joke.
   
   Unfortunately it's summer in New Zealand, so coal is difficult to find.
   
   Otherwise I think it's a little cruel like Aime does. Mine is all in fun.

   replyreport
6. 61

   askformore lmposted 9 years ago

   A piece of coal as a Christmas present is a super idea!
   However, the only receiver who will truly appreciate it is Lois Lane when she receive it from the hands of Superman!
   The basics of coal and diamonds are the same, namely: Carbon!
   But it takes a lot of superpower and imagination to transform the dull black coal into a shiny glittering diamond.

   replyreport
7. 72

   CarolineChicagoposted 9 years ago

   I've never given coal nor seen anyone receive it--although there have certainly been times in December when I've thought about giving it to one or more of our children! I would never give it to any child, no matter the age. I think it would be too traumatic. However, I think it would be a great joke to play on an adult friend or in an office Secret Santa (as long as it was paired with a positive gift).

   replyreport
8. 98

   Pollyanna Jonesposted 9 years ago

   With the price of a sack of coal being high these days, I would love to get some for my parents one year. It would be seen as a funny joke, but I know they'd appreciate it for their stove.

   replyreport
9. 60

   Betsy Scott Fitzmposted 9 years ago

   Years ago, my Grandfather Scott told me that as Methodists the family postponed celebrating Christmas if it fell on a Sunday.  One year he took exception to the rule and hung up his stocking anyway.  The next day, in his stocking he found a piece of coal, with a note: 
   'This is all you get for Christmas, Greedy Guts."

   replyreport
   1. 0

      lyndapringleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Dang!! More rudeness in a family household!!  Sounds like a horrible Grinch of a family!

      replyreport
10. 82

    kidnappedkidsposted 9 years ago

    I have.  I was adopted and my adopted parents did not like me and were quite mean to me growing up.  Most Christmases, I got nothing.  One Christmas, I got up there and found there were several wrapped Christmas presents.  I was very excited.  When I opened them, each box had one piece of coal in it.  There were no other presents - they just thought that was funny, apparently. 
    
    The joke was ultimately on them though.  I ran away at 16, lived on the streets for a couple years until I got enough money for an apartment, then I put myself through college and got a degree (they never went to college), had wonderful kids, and didn't become a miserable, angry person like they did.

    replyreport
    1. 71

       Aime Fposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Oh my gosh, that's terrible.

       replyreport
    2. 0

       lyndapringleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Sheesh! What a set of miserable parents!  I hope you are no longer in communication with them!

       replyreport
    3. 0

       IslamWashiaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       If you forgive them, you will complete your success story.

       replyreport
    4. 72

       CarolineChicagoposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Good lord, what a terrible experience. I hope you now have someone to spoil you every Christmas.

       replyreport
11. 75

    alancaster149posted 9 years ago

    Never come across pieces of coal for prezzies at Christmas.
    In the North of England and Scotland a dark-haired man is welcomed in as a 'first footer' in the New Year as long as he has a piece of coal for good luck. He has to say before he crosses the threshold: "I'm a lucky hen, chuck-chuck-chuck. If you let me in I'll bring YOU good luck!"
    The only time I'd have welcomed a piece of coal for Christmas, I'd have to have a coal fire and there was a shortage of fuel. As it is I live in a 'smokeless zone'. Not much use to me. I did once take a lump of coal from a railway museum, to break up into small 'crumbs' for use on a model railway.

    replyreport
12. 0

    lyndapringleposted 9 years ago

    NO!!  Thank goodness!  Not even the abusive parents I've known have ever done this to their children.  LOL!!   Of course, with the increasing price of electricity, a lump of coal in one's stocking might not be a bad gift!

    replyreport
13. 90

    MizBejabbersposted 9 years ago

    No, I haven't, but I did give my dad a bundle of sticks one Christmas. He and mom had just bought a new house in 1978, and I heard him mention to her that he would like to plant some crape myrtles. Christmas came and I went to a local nursery and bought him what would be a red crape myrtle, my favorite color. Of course it was a pathetic bundle of twigs. I put a red bow on the pot and wrote a little note that he was getting a bundle of sticks for Christmas because he'd been a bad boy. He didn't think that was funny at all. See, my dad had little or no sense of humor unless he was the one pulling the joke. Anyway, spring came and he planted the bundle of sticks in the corner of the yard. Months later, I came to visit and he greeted me smiling and telling me how pretty that plant was that I'd given him for Christmas. There was no mention of the "bundle of sticks". Today that bundle of sticks is still looking beautiful in the yard although we sold the home several years ago after my parents died.

    replyreport
14. 85

    denise.w.andersonposted 9 years ago

    Yes. I had a younger brother who was given to angry fits. One year, he received a lump of coal in his stocking! It was enough to sober up the rest of us!

    replyreport
15. 78

    teaches12345posted 9 years ago

    We do give coal as gag gifts on occasion. It is fun to see the reaction. However, we have to be selective on who gets the coal. Not everyone has a sense of humor and you don't want to offend a gentle spirit.

    replyreport