The pinky promise originated in Japan, Apparently it was the most sacred of promises. A person who broke a pinky promise was forced to cut off their pinky finger. The gesture may be connected to the Japanese belief that soulmates are connected by a red string of fate attached to each of their pinkies. In the United States, the pinky promise has been around since at least 1860. The Dictionary of Americanisms listed this accompanying the pinky promise:
Pinky, pinky bow-bell,
Whoever tells a lie
Will sink down to the bad place
And never rise up again. In today's times, a pinky promise is an informal way of sealing a promise. It's most common with school-aged kids, and best friends, and signifies a promise that can never be broken.
Pinky, pinky bow-bell,
Whoever tells a lie
Will sink down to the bad place
And never rise up again. In today's times, a pinky promise is an informal way of sealing a promise. It's most common with school-aged kids, and best friends, and signifies a promise that can never be broken.