A Pinch and a Punch for the First of the Month

By Val
@valmnz (17097)
New Zealand
September 30, 2015 1:47pm CST
Did you say that on the first day of the month when you were a kid? The saying was if you got in and said it to someone first, they couldn't pinch you back. And, at school, we were only allowed to say it until lunchtime, we got into trouble if we used it after that. I have no idea of the origin of the saying, but it was supposed to bring good luck if you said a pinch and a punch for the first of the month on the first day of every new month, given with the appropriate actions of course. Most kids did it lightly, but some of the boys especially enjoyed being allowed to be a bit more physical. So, here I am, having my first coffee for October and wishing you luck for the month ahead. I hope it's a food one for you. Was this expression one you used as a child?
12 people like this
13 responses
Rachel Young
@rachelyoung13 (64)
• United Kingdom
30 Sep 15
We used to chase each other round the playground trying to be the first one to say it... In hindsight it was just an extreme game of tag for us. Did you have the variations of "A kick and a flick for being so quick" and "a poke in the eye for being so sly" in retaliation to it or was that just my school?
2 people like this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
30 Sep 15
Yes, I do vaguely remember other sayings like that too. At my school the boys lay in waiting so they could pinch the girls.
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
1 Oct 15
@rachelyoung13 I seem to remember even friends couldn't be counted on, but it was mostly fun.
Rachel Young
@rachelyoung13 (64)
• United Kingdom
30 Sep 15
@valmnz same at mine, there was always a slight worry going into school on the first as I didn't want to get caught
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Anna
@LadyDuck (471541)
• Switzerland
1 Oct 15
No, we have nothing similar, I cannot remember anything both in Italy and France and not even here in Switzerland.
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Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
1 Oct 15
Did kids acknowledge the first of the month in any way?
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Anna
@LadyDuck (471541)
• Switzerland
2 Oct 15
@valmnz No, nothing special about the first of the month, a day like another.
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AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
1 Oct 15
No, I never heard that before, but The Man knows it. We must not have the saying in the US. I vaguely remember something we were supposed to hit each other over, but I can't remember what it was.
2 people like this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
1 Oct 15
Just imagine that happening today. Some kids scream murder even when they're looked at!
Always smiling
@allknowing (136446)
• India
2 Oct 15
I only remember April Fools day which was vigorously followed here, there and everywhere. I am hearing about what you have said here for the first time - looks like a New Zealander's creation.
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (136446)
• India
2 Oct 15
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
2 Oct 15
No, definitely an old English one, brought here by the settlers.
1 person likes this
crazyhorseladycx
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
30 Sep 15
i don't reckon i've e'er heard 'f such 'fore? i bet'cha they don't allow such in school these days though - somebody might yell foul play 'n slap a lawsuit. pitiful to think that way, aint it? wishin' ya the same 'n great health!
2 people like this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
30 Sep 15
You still hear it discreetly in playgrounds and classrooms here, just with the little kids.
1 person likes this
Inlemay
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
6 Oct 15
and then we would add a nix - pinch, punch, nix - so that we didnt get the punch back. Nix means NO - I think
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
6 Oct 15
@Inlemay And we'd add and no returns!
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Glen
@glenniah (1197)
• Mandurah, Australia
1 Oct 15
Yes Val, we always used it. Perhaps we should all try and find the expressions we used or our parents used, it could be interesting.
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Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
1 Oct 15
I do seem to be going back down memory lane a bit at the moment!
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Hate2Iron
@Hate2Iron (15727)
• Canada
1 Oct 15
I have never heard of it before but I'm going to try it on my daughter. I can almost imagine the look of her face lol... Now Val did mention it below that it was an old english saying, so my husband just might have heard of it!!
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Mohd. Irfan Alam
@gregario888 (1276)
• Aurangabad, India
1 Oct 15
That's a lovely one, Val!
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Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
1 Oct 15
I still haven't made time to look up how it started.
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Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
30 Sep 15
Never heard anyone say that, or heard of it before, must be a cultural thing. OH and it just occured to me, it's still September here for a few more hours!
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Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
30 Sep 15
It's definitely an old English playground saying.
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Kimberley
@mom210 (9117)
• United States
1 Oct 15
I have never heard of that game, but any excuse to pinch somebody is fun
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Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
1 Oct 15
But not being on the receiving end.
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susan
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
1 Oct 15
Yes I do... we used to do the same in school like you did...
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Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (13023)
• Ireland
30 Sep 15
Oh yes, I remember that from school in Malawi which was awfully British. It's most unfair that time decrees that Kiwis always get to say it first!
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
1 Oct 15
Living down near the bottom of the world has its merits.