Wednesday, November 5, 2008

"Ginger twins": Is this truly a British teapot superstition?


In 1994 Alexandra Stoddard authored a rambling thoroughly self-interested book entitled, Tea Celebrations. Therein, the book claims that it is a British superstition that only one person may pour from the teapot at a sitting. Otherwise, the second person to pour from the teapot shall have "ginger (red-headed) twins." Is this true?

5 comments:

Starr said...

Hi. I'm an American living in England. This is the first time I've ever heard this story, but I'll ask around.

BTW, I found your blogs just a few days ago. They are a truly lovely distraction from the tedious moments in my day.

Bruce said...

My mum (born in 1907) used to say this to me and my wife.
However, I haven't met anyone else who has heard it.

jigsaw said...

"Ginger twins" this saying is also used when the last of the wine is poured from the bottle in company!...the lady that is offered "ginger twins" finishes the bottle, the consequence may end in ginger twins...ha ha.

Adrian Lee said...

This is true, it is when one person puts the water in the teapot with the tea and then another person pours it out. My family has been in the east end of London for many centuries and this has been passed down.

I believe it is used to force the person who poured the water into the teapot to get up again to then pour the tea out - because everyone else is too lazy.

Hope this helps

Adrian Lee said...

This saying is used in the east end of London and goes back several centuries.

It is when someone pours the hot water and tea into the teapot and another person pours it into the cups.

It is basically used to force the person who started the process to finish it because everyone else is too lazy.