My MIL Would Secretly Give Me Porcelain Dolls Every Christmas — I Was Shocked to Find Out Their True Purpose

October 10, 2024

For years, Monica’s mother-in-law, Lina, has been giving her porcelain dolls for Christmas. Mon always assumed they were just antiques and kept them hidden in her closet. But her husband, Andy, sees them and reveals their purpose…

Cultural differences in mixed-race relationships are pretty common, right?

But I never thought an innocent gift could turn into something this terrifying.

Let me take you back to how it all began.

A shocked womanSource: Midjourney

Andy and I met at a party hosted by a mutual friend about seven years ago. I remember the moment like it was yesterday. We made eye contact from across the room, and the spark was instant. Normally, I don’t believe in love at first sight, but with him?

There was this immediate connection.

We spent hours talking that night, and as we sipped champagne, we shared details about our lives, families, and our dreams for the future. What really stood out to me was how different our backgrounds were.

A smiling coupleSource: Midjourney

I’m white and grew up in a quiet suburban family where traditions meant things like Sunday barbecues or putting up the Christmas tree together. Andy, on the other hand, is Black, and his family’ traditions come from a rich cultural history that I was eager to learn more about.

Early in our relationship, I realized there were parts of his world I didn’t fully understand. I did my best to stay open-minded, and Andy was always incredibly patient, taking the time to explain things that were new to me.

“It’s okay, Monica,” Andy said. “This is a completely different world, you know?”

A couple sitting together at a partySource: Midjourney

Andy’s family followed certain customs, and while some of them seemed a little mysterious to me, I admired the meaning and depth behind them.

But I’ll be honest, I wasn’t quite ready for everything that came with being part of Andy’s family, especially when it came to his mom, Lina.

She was always polite, but there was this formal distance between us. Even years after Andy and I got married, I still felt like an outsider around her.

A smiling manSource: Midjourney

One of the family traditions that really stood out to me was the porcelain dolls.

Every Christmas, Lina would give me one of these dolls. At first, I thought it was a thoughtful, if slightly unusual, gesture. The dolls were beautiful, delicate, and looked like something you’d find in an antique store.

“This is gorgeous, Lina,” I said when she gave me the first one. “The detail is just incredible!”

A porcelain doll in a boxSource: Midjourney

“I thought you’d like it, Monica,” she said softly. “I thought maybe we could start our own little tradition, you know?”

It felt personal – that my mother-in-law wanted to create something special between us. Right?

Well, not exactly.

A woman giving her daughter-in-law a giftSource: Midjourney

Looking back, I should have realized something was off when Lina always gave me the dolls privately, away from the rest of the family. She never explained why, and I never thought to ask. I just assumed it was a personal gesture, like she was passing down family keepsakes.

I tried to appreciate them, but if I’m being honest, dolls just weren’t my thing. Like clowns, they’ve always kind of creeped me out.

And, seriously, have you seen their creepy little eyes?

A beautiful smiling womanSource: Midjourney

So, I did what felt easiest. I stashed them in the back of my closet. Over the years, five dolls ended up there, just collecting dust. I couldn’t bring myself to throw them away, but I also didn’t know what else to do with them.

“Out of sight, out of mind,” I told myself as I tossed a shawl over them in the closet.

But this Christmas, things took an unexpected turn.

Porcelain dolls in a boxSource: Midjourney

Andy had promised me a brand-new custom closet as a gift, so in the weeks leading up to the holiday, we started clearing out my old one.

While packing up my clothes, I had two realizations:

First, I owned way too many black clothes.

Plans for a custom closetSource: Midjourney

Second, what on earth was I going to do with those dolls?

I pulled them out and set them on the bed, not really thinking much of it. But when Andy saw them, his reaction was immediate.

Immediate, and a bit scary.

A shocked manSource: Midjourney

Andy’s face went completely pale, and his whole demeanor changed. He looked at the dolls like they were something… dangerous.

“Where did you get those?” he asked, his voice tense.

“The dolls?” I replied, wanting to make sure his reaction was about them.

“Monica! Yes, the dolls. Where did you get them?”

“From your mom,” I said, still confused. “She’s been giving me one every Christmas for the last five years.”

“For five years?” he repeated, sounding completely shocked. “Monica, why didn’t you tell me?”

A woman sitting on her bedSource: Midjourney

“I didn’t think it was a big deal,” I said, shrugging. “I think they’re a bit strange, but I mean, they’re nice gifts.”

Andy didn’t say anything for a moment.

Instead, he walked over to the bed, where I had left the dolls, holding one gingerly, as if it might break.

A shocked manSource: Midjourney

Or bite.

Then, without any warning, Andy scooped up the dolls and hurried out of the room.

“Andy, where are you going?” I called after him, but he didn’t answer.

A man holding porcelain dollsSource: Midjourney

I followed him to the living room, my heart racing. I had no clue what was happening, but I had never seen him this shaken. He went straight to the fireplace, threw the dolls inside, and lit a fire.

I stood there, stunned, watching as the flames consumed the porcelain, cracking their fragile faces and burning up their frilly dresses.

“What are you doing? Andy? Why did you just burn those?” I asked, still in disbelief.

Porcelain dolls in a fireSource: Midjourney

Andy turned around, his expression serios.

“Mon, you know our families come from different cultures, right?”

I nodded, confused.

“Of course, I know that. But what does that have to do with burning the dolls?”

He sat down beside me, taking a deep breath.

“Those dolls… they aren’t just collectibles or decorations. In my culture, they’re used to cleanse a home. They’re meant to absorb negative energy and protect the people living there.”

A shocked womanSource: Midjourney

I stared at him, trying to wrap my mind around what he was saying.

“So, they’re like good luck charms?”

“Not exactly,” he said. “They take in the bad energy, but once they’re full, they start releasing it back. And when that happens, the energy turns toxic. They can start to poison the air around them. That’s why I burned them. From what I know, it’s the only way to stop them from causing harm.”

Porcelain dolls in a fireSource: Midjourney

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

What the heck?

“Toxic? Andy, those dolls have been sitting in our house for years.”

A shocked womanSource: Midjourney

“I know, Mon,” he said quietly. “That’s why I didn’t want to take any risks. The fire is supposed to purify the energy they’ve absorbed. Usually, you burn them outside with incense and flowers as part of a ritual. But I didn’t think we had time to wait.”

I just sat there, trying to process everything he had told me. It sounded like something straight out of a horror movie.

But Andy’s expression was deadly serious.

Incense and flowers on a tableSource: Midjourney

I believed him, even though part of me wanted to brush it off as some weird superstition.

“Why didn’t your mom tell me this when she gave them to me?” I asked, feeling a surge of frustration. “She just handed them to me like they were normal gifts. I had no idea they were supposed to protect the house.”

Andy shook his head.

A frowning woman sitting on a couchSource: Midjourney

“I don’t know. Maybe she thought you already knew. Or maybe she figured you’d figure it out on your own? But yeah, she definitely should have explained it.”

Later that night, after Andy carefully collected the ashes and took them to a nearby park to dispose of them, I decided it was time to call Lina.

I needed answers.

A pensive man sitting on a couchSource: Midjourney

Why hadn’t she told me? Why let me unknowingly keep them in our home all these years without telling me their purpose?

When Lina picked up the phone, I didn’t waste any time. I explained what had happened, expecting her to be shocked or maybe even apologetic. But instead, she was calm.

Almost indifferent.

“It’s your responsibility, Monica,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone. “You’re part of this family now. You need to learn our traditions, especially if you and Andy plan to have children. Don’t accept gifts without knowing what they’re for.”

Wow. Nice mother-in-law, huh?

I knew she had a point in some ways, but I couldn’t help feeling hurt. It didn’t seem fair for her to give me something so important without telling me what it meant.

A smiling womanSource: Midjourney

Seriously, how was I supposed to know?

“You know, I thought I was doing the right thing by accepting the dolls,” I said to Andy later that night as we ate ice cream together. “I didn’t want to offend your mom. But now I feel like I’ve been completely clueless this whole time.”

Andy sighed and reached for my hand.

A frowning woman sitting on a couchSource: Midjourney

“You weren’t clueless. You just didn’t know. I should’ve told you more about our traditions. Sometimes I forget that we come from different backgrounds.”

“I want to understand,” I said. “I want to learn more about your family’s culture. I just didn’t realize how much there was to know.”

He smiled at me, his expression softening.

A couple sitting on a couch togetherSource: Midjourney

“Yeah, but I think we’re done with the dolls, Mon. How about we start some new traditions of our own?”

I smiled, feeling the weight lift from our home.

“I’d like that,” I said.

A smiling manSource: Midjourney

But one thing I’ve learned from all of this:

If you’re with someone from a different culture, make sure to ask questions and learn as much as you can!

Especially if porcelain dolls are involved.

This story is inspired by real events and people, though it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enrich the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims regarding the accuracy of the events or character portrayals and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author or publisher.