Would a lump of coal be a great gift in the winter?

Yes, along with some dry kindling and a match. Light it in a safe place.

Yes! I have given many over the years. I prefer to give anthracite since it is hard and shiny and relatively clean. Put it in a plastic baggie so it does not mess up anything.

Fun fact… It is very difficult to light and won’t burn in a “normal” wood burning stove. If you have a good fire going you can toss in a couple of lumps for fun to see what happens. Nothing.
My high tech Lopi wood burner will light them off when I have a hot fire going.

Coal makes an excellent gift for the holiday season and can be delivered in quantities ranging from 5 gram nodules, gift wrapped, to the “winter warmer” a massive 13 tons of anthracite with free delivery included. A wonderful surprise present for those you hold most dear. Merry Christmas!!

If you compress the coal enough, it will turn into a diamond.

Getting a lump of coal from Santa means that you have been naughty that year.

Back in the days of steam, when locomotives burned coal, they burned anthracite because it left almost no ash residue.

For fun I just checked coal prices. It is $465 per ton here in western NY.
Santa thinks it’s a good deal. :-)

Giving coal is an insult in my neck of the woods. As Loli pointed out, it says that you were so bad all year that you don’t deserve a real present. You also need a special coal burning stove in order to use it & you didn’t mention giving them the stove with the lump of coal. Coal is also on the list as bad for our environment & increasing the need for climate control. Although it sounds like a thoughtful idea, I think I’d come up with something else.

Considering the going rate of lump coal, you are somewhere in the range of a penny for that gift.

Scrooge! In return, I will send you some sand to pound.

Here is the definitive answer: The Crisis at Christmas HQ .
(It’s a fun, 4 minute video. Enjoy!)