My coworker's birthday is coming up and I was thinking of getting her a nice leather wallet, but then my mom mentioned that giving wallets is supposed to be bad luck because it means you're wishing poverty on someone. I'm not really superstitious, but now I'm second-guessing myself. Should I just get her something else instead?
The superstition doesn't hold up - it's just old folklore with no real consequences - but there's one thing worth considering: does your coworker actually *want* a wallet? Some people are picky about leather goods since they're such personal items (color, size, material preference), and getting it wrong could mean she doesn't use it. If you're unsure about her taste, you might be safer asking a mutual friend what she'd like, or just picking something else entirely.
This superstition exists in several cultures - your mom's take is a common one, especially in some Asian traditions - but it's purely folklore with no actual basis. If your coworker would genuinely appreciate a nice leather wallet and you think she'd use it, that's what matters; the superstition only has power if both of you actually believe in it. Does she tend to be superstitious herself, or is this more just your mom's concern?
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