some explain the superstition saying knock on wood comes from involving mystical creatures living in trees and touching wood to request good luck or distract the creatures from wooden crucifixes.
some explain the superstition saying knock on wood comes from involving mystical creatures living in trees and touching wood to request good luck or distract the creatures from wooden crucifixes.
where do some explain the superstition saying knock on wood comes from involving mystical creatures living in trees and touching wood to request good luck or distract the creatures?
wooden crucifixes
the origin of the custom may be in german folklore, where in supernatural beings are thought to live in trees, and can be invoked for protection. one explanation states that the tradition derived from the pagans who thought that trees were the homes of fairies, spirits, dryads and many other mystical creatures. in these instances, people might knock or touch wood to request good luck, or to distract spirits with evil intentions. when in need of a favour or some good luck, one politely mentioned this wish to a tree and then touched the bark, representing the first "knock". the second "knock" was to say "thank you". the knocking was also supposed to prevent evil spirits from hearing your speech and as such stop them from interfering. alternatively, some traditions have it that by knocking upon wood, you would awaken and release the benevolent wood fairies that dwelt there.
knocking on wood
at epsom downs racecourse on 2 june touching wood started at odds of 40/1 for the 203rd running of the derby. cook positioned touching wood just behind the leaders, but the colt came under pressure and lost ground on the downhill section of the course. in the straight he moved up again to overtake the leader norwick inside the final quarter mile but was immediately overtaken by golden fleece. touching wood stayed on in the closing stages to finish second by three lengths, just ahead of silver hawk, persepolis and norwick.
touching wood