To make a pinky promise, or pinky swear, is a traditional gesture most commonly practiced amongst children involving the locking of the pinkies of two people to signify that a

promise A promise is a commitment by someone to do or not do something. As a noun ''promise'' means a declaration assuring that one will or will not do something. As a verb it means to commit oneself by a promise to do or give. It can also mean a capacity ...

has been made. The gesture is taken to signify that the person can break the finger of the one who broke the promise. The tradition appears to be a relatively modern invention, possibly as a continuation of older finger traditions.

Prevalence worldwide

In North America, it is most common amongst school-aged children or adults and close friends and has existed since at least 1860, when the ''Dictionary of Americanisms'' listed the following accompanying promise:

Pinky, pinky bow-bell, Whoever tells a lie Will sink down to the bad place And never rise up again.

Pinky swearing has origins in Japan from 1600-1803, where it is called and often additionally confirmed with the vow . Recently, in South Korea, the hooked pinky has been followed by a "seal", wherein the thumbs touch each other while the pinkies are still hooked. In Taiwan, stamping after hooking pinkies has been common place for over 30 years. In

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is #Descriptions, variously described as ...

it is referred to as a "piggy promise". In Italy, a similar tradition is called "giurin giurello" or "giurin giuretto". In Maharashtra (India), this concept similarly using Marathi calls this "Gatti fu".

References

External links

* Oaths Traditions Hand gestures {{tradition-stub