Knocking on wood

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Knocking on wood - in Britain and Australia the phrase is touch wood - is an apotropaic tradition of literally touching, tapping, or knocking on wood, or merely stating that one is doing or intend to do so, in order to avoid "tempting fate" after making a favourable observation, a boast, or declaration concerning one's own death or other unfavorable situation beyond one's control.

The origin of the custom may be in Greek Mythology, wherein dryads are thought to live in trees, and can be invoked for protection.^[1][2]

Similar traditions in other cultures

• In Indonesia, when someone is saying bad things, the one that hears it would knock on wood (or anything) and knock their forehead saying "amit-amit".
• In Malaysia, when someone is saying bad things, the one that hears it would knock on wood (or anything) and knock their forehead saying "choi".
• In Italy, "tocca ferro" (touch iron) is used, especially after seeing an undertaker or something related to death.^[3]
• In Iran, "Bezænæm be Tæchte بزنم به تخته" (knock on wood), when one says something good about something or somebody, he/she will knock on the wood, saying "bezan-am be takhteh, cheshm nakhoreh" ([I] am knocking on the wood, to prevent -it, he, or she- from being jinxed). Evil eye, and being jinxed is a common phobia and superstitious belief in Iranian culture. Iranians traditionally believe knocking on the wood wards off evil spirits.
• In Egypt, "Emsek El Khashab إمسك الخشب" (Hold the wood), people say it when mention good luck that you have had in the past or when you mention hopes you have for the future. The expression is usually used in the hope that a good thing will continue to occur after it has been acknowledged. And to prevent Envy
• In old English folklore, "knocking on wood" also referred to when people spoke of secrets – they went into the isolated woods to talk privately and "knocked" on the trees when they were talking to hide their communication from evil spirits who would be unable to hear when they knocked. Another version holds that the act of knocking was to perk up the spirits to make them work in the requester's favor.^[4] Yet another version holds that a sect of Monks who wore large wooden crosses around their necks would tap or "knock" on them to ward away evil.
• In Romania, there is also a superstition that one can avoid bad things aforementioned by literally knocking on wood ("a bate în lemn"). Wood tables are exempted. One of the possible reasons could be that there is a monastery practice to call people to pray by playing / knocking the simantron.^[5]
• In Bulgaria the superstition of "knock on wood" (чукам на дърво) is reserved for protection against the evil, and is not typically used for attracting good luck. Usually people engage in the practice in reaction to bad news, actual or merely imagined. In most cases the nearest wooden object is used (in some areas, however, tables are exempt); if there are no such objects within immediate reach, a common tongue-in-cheek practice is to knock on one's head. Knocking on wood is often followed by lightly pulling one's earlobe with the same hand. Common phrases to accompany the ritual are "God guard us" (Бог да ни пази) and "May the Devil not hear" (Да не чуе Дяволът).
• In Croatia and Serbia there is also the habit of knocking on wood when saying something positive or affirmative about someone or something and not wanting that to change. Frequently the movement of knocking on nearby wood is followed by "Da pokucam u drvo" (да куцнем у дрво) (I will knock on wood), or sometimes by "Da ne ureknem" (да не урекнем) (I don't want to jinx it).^[6]
• In Poland, as well as in Russia, there is a habit of knocking on (unpainted) wood (which may be preceded by saying odpukać w niemalowane drewno or simply odpukać, literally meaning to knock on unpainted wood) when saying something negative - to prevent it from happening - or, more rarely, something positive - in order not to "spoil it". In Czech Republic, this is often accompanied for stronger effect by knocking on one's teeth, a piece of building stone, or metal, reasoning that these (as opposed to wood) survive even fire.
• In Turkey, when someone hears about a bad experience someone else had, he/she may gently pull one earlobe, and knock on a wood twice, which means "God save me from that thing."
• In the United States in the eighteenth century, men used to knock on the wood stock of their muzzle-loading rifles to settle the black powder charge, ensuring the weapon would fire cleanly.
• In Spain "tocar madera" (literally: to touch wood) is something that you say when you want your luck or a good situation to continue. Ha ido bien toda la semana y, toco madera, seguirá bien el fin de semana. (It's been fine all week and, touch wood, it'll stay fine for the weekend).
• In Greece the saying "χτύπα ξύλο" (literally: Knock wood) is said when hearing someone say something negative in order to prevent it from happening.
• In Lebanon the saying "دقّ عالخشب" (literally: Knock wood) is said when hearing someone say something negative in order to prevent it from happening. It is also largely observed when saying something positive or affirmative about someone or something and not wanting that to change.

On an episode of the American TV show The Rifleman, first aired 11/05/1962, an Irish female character stated 'knocking on wood' was done to thank Leprechauns for the good luck they had provided

See also

• Crossed fingers
• Evil eye
• Jinx
• Alomancy, related to throwing salt over the left shoulder

References