Quote:
Originally Posted by kendelle
Giving a lock of hair means that you're forming a special bond with that person.
It's been quite common in Western culture up until about 50 years go. Historically it was incredibly common.
One authoress (I can't remember her name) received so many letters asking for a lock of hair from her fans that she went bald cutting it all off 
My parents still have my baby hair so it's not that odd, although they could have packaged it better!! |
LEMME JUST EMPHASIS THIS!!!
I know a lot of people are saying this is gross, but like stated previously, this is a normal thing in Japan and has actually been a normal thing in Western culture for a long time up until recently.
I believe in the 1700's/1800's, people's hair were used as souvenirs left and right. And the hair was sometimes kept in lockets, usually the hair of a loved one who has passed away.
In Japan, it was used as a gift to the gods, good luck, etc.
Examples of this
here.
And there's a whole book about it
here.
I actually found this pretty interesting.