superstition: knock on wood

jason

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superstition: knock on wood

To knock on wood or touch wood is a way to ward of evil or bad consequences. The origins are unknown, although the Irish are believe to have started this. As they would knock, or touch oak to thank the little people for the good luck you have been having. Other cultures believe the knocking would drowned out what you have said so that the evil spirits wouldn't have heard what you said. Early Christians did this because they believe wood symbolized the cross.

Others believe this to be from a game kids played in the early 1800's called Tiggy Touch Wood. In the game you could not be tagged if you were touching wood.

If no wood is available some people will knock on their head.
 

palefrost

New Member
LOL interesting. I would have thought it had something to do with wood be a natural element. You know touching something natural to ward off evil or ground it.
 

vicki2

New Member
I've also heard it originated as a little prayer to the spirits who lived in trees. If you bragged about something or had good luck, you knocked wood so the spirits wouldn't punished you for bragging.
 

htmlmaster

New Member
Interesting research there. I never really tested the myth, my desk at school (the only times I need luck are when taking a test) is made of plastic. I'll have to try knocking on my head next time.
 

Melos

New Member
I do this, but really only in jest. And I do believe knocking on one's head is pretty much calling oneself a block(of wood) head.
 

vicki2

New Member
Yes, I think so, and it's become something funny as opposed to superstition.

But it's like saying God Bless or Gazundheit when someone sneezes ...that started out during the plague because if someone sneezed it meant they probably had the plague and were going to die.
 

Slashmire

New Member
I was actually thinking about that yesterday (a TV Show character was knocking on wood.)...the only thing that came to my mind was that it increased the chance of splinters :)
 

Draygonia

New Member
Melos;522 said:
I do this, but really only in jest. And I do believe knocking on one's head is pretty much calling oneself a block(of wood) head.
I did that to a kid in school... they didnt like it very much :( They tried to knock HARD on my head -.-

Anyways, thats an interesting tidbit of info. It just goes to show how rediculous some things are when fully understood.
 

LyricB

New Member
I still knock on wood, I guess out of habit. It's like not opening an umbrella inside...the way my mom explained it to me (and the way her mom explained it to her) is that opening an umbrella inside is showing God you don't trust the shelter he has provided you, or something like that. Man, it used to FREAK OUT my mom when I opened an umbrella in the house.
 

Draygonia

New Member
I definitely find that interesting, I had no clue that's why you dont open an unbrella in the house, thought it had something to do with attracting bad weather or something silly along those lines.

Nice to learn that though :)
 

vicki2

New Member
The other one is not leaving toilet lids up ...the supersition is that your money gets flushed away more quickly if you do leave them up. Of course, I think that one was invented by a mother with a lot sons! LOL.
 

LyricB

New Member
Oh Vicki, I will definintely have to incorporate that particular superstition into my household. That will save me some headaches!! ;)
 
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