Has anyone actually ever received or given coal at Christmas?

[Dark Raven]

I know it's the threat that parents/adults use if their children are misbehaving that this is what Santa will give them, but do you know of anyone who has actually ever received or given coal at Christmas?

Would that seem inappropriate, an affront and a real killjoy to the seasonal spirit of celebration, even if children really have been very badly behaved throughout the year and leading up to Christmas? Imagine bringing that as a gift if you went to visit at someone's place! Or imagine unwrapping a present to actually find a lump of coal!

What are people's experiences of this?

 

[Immortalfire]

I have seen a wrapped chunk of coal in stores, as a gag gift. But no, I've never known anyone who has gotten it..nor have I received any myself.

 

[RockSP]

I've thought of giving a piece of charcoal to my youngest niece more than once as a joke. She's a very, very, very, VERY mean little kid. I think I may do it this year (she'll have a real gift too).

 

[Duke]

To me, it's just one of those things that just occur in storybooks, cartoons, etc.

 

[Destructus86]

Not me.

But what about a horses head in a stocking?

 

[Sundancer]

I'd like to know where this came from as well.

 

[Immortalfire]

I've thought of giving a piece of charcoal to my youngest niece more than once as a joke. She's a very, very, very, VERY mean little kid. I think I may do it this year (she'll have a real gift too).

Sounds like she needs just the coal.

 

[Dark Raven]

There ought to be coal on hand just in case some children are very naughty and acting like spoilt, ungrateful brats after receiving their gifts (or complaining about the presents they did receive).

 

[C. Lee]

I've given and received it as a gag gift. I live in Kentucky...this is coal country....you can find it at local stores carved into different joke things.

 

[Ultimatehero]

"Whoo-bity, what-ity, what now?"

I am in interested in the horse's head thing though...

 

[Lasirius]

Since I don't have money for gifts this year, this is a great option to give to everyone.

 

[Lencho01]

Just as a joke from a teacher in elementary school.

 

[Master Chief]

Never have.

But I do remember around the time the Xbox 360 came out, some dad wanted to punish his kid for being an a**hole. He planned to sell it under the condition that he could keep the box so he could fill it with coal hahah.

 

[Lasirius]

A lot of kids these days do deserve nothing but a good ol' piece of coal.

 

[Lily Adler]

I got coal when I was little (my parents creative way of punishing me). I was such a little brat, so I totally deserved it. Ah memories.

 

[Dark Raven]

A lot of kids these days do deserve nothing but a good ol' piece of coal.

That is true. But would the parent/ adult seem like a grinch for doing that? Would it seem more tactful to just give nothing? Of course, giving nothing wouldn't have the same message as giving a lump of coal, but who is it going to reflect badly upon ultimately?

I got coal when I was little (my parents creative way of punishing me). I was such a little brat, so I totally deserved it. Ah memories.

You seem like a nice girl. Was that really true?

 

[Lily Adler]

^Oh yeah. I'm only nice now because I was such a brat growing up. I got in trouble in school a lot and got into many arguments. Which is probably why I'm going to law school.

 

[Lasirius]

That is true. But would the parent/ adult seem like a grinch for doing that? Would it seem more tactful to just give nothing? Of course, giving nothing wouldn't have the same message as giving a lump of coal, but who is it going to reflect badly upon ultimately?

Regardless of them deserving it or not, it would be pretty harsh because I bet all of the other kids around your own would be getting all this stuff for Christmas. What is he/she going to say when they ask him/her what Santa brought them? You're just going to look like an inconsiderate parent most probably deserving a lump of coal of your own for next year.

 

[Spider-Who?]

I've gotten snow man poop before. Packing peanuts.

 

[AndThePickles]

There is a winter beer called "lump of coal" that I think would make a great stocking stuffer for adults.

 

[CelticPredator]

I think a box of someone's dump would suffice.

 

[Dark Raven]

There is a winter beer called "lump of coal" that I think would make a great stocking stuffer for adults.

Is that available at Target?

 

[Wolfwood]

I found a beer called Lump of Coal, so I'm giving that to a friend of mine. I hope it tastes like garbage.

 

[bullets]

I remember my Grandmother putting a lump of coal in my Grandfather's stocking one year, I thought it was the funniest thing ever.

 

[Godzilla2000]

Oooh! Oooh! We have this Worst Gift contest every year and one year I did bring coal wrapped in newspaper as my tacky gift.