where does the phrase "touch wood" come from? Is it superstition or just silly?

Question

We were talking at the weekend end and when someone didn't want something to happen they said "touch wood". Why?

Answer 1

The term, touch wood, evokes many different theories about its origin.

First, it was said that people in the dark ages would carry around pieces of the "true cross of Christ". You can probably guarantee that there were a lot of fakes rolling around, but nonetheless people would touch the wood for luck or to ward off evil.

Second, pagans of old (and today even) were people who revered trees (Druid is said to mean "knower of the oaks"), especially oak which is the symbol of the god. If you rub your left palm on an oak on St. John's Day (24th June), it is said to be very good luck indeed.

Lastly, and I think, most probably, it was believed once that wood sprites would inhabit the trees of the forest and if they heard of something good happening to someone, mischevious little things they are, they would make sure it turned out the opposite for the person. Thus, people would "knock on wood" so the little sprites within wouldn't hear them.

Answer 2

The origin is unknown, though some writers have pointed to pre-Christian rituals involving the spirits of sacred trees such as the oak, ash, holly or hawthorn. There is, I’m told, an old Irish belief that you should knock on wood to let the little people know that you are thanking them for a bit of good luck. There’s also a belief that the knocking sound prevents the Devil from hearing your unwise comments. Others have sought a meaning in which the wood symbolises the timber of the cross, but this may be a Christianisation of an older ritual. It wasn’t always wood that was lucky: in older days, iron was also thought to have magical properties, and to touch iron was an equivalent preventative against ill-fortune.

Answer 3

"Knock on wood" is an Americanized version of the older English phrase "touch wood". It is believed that by being a tree hugger you will grant yourself protection against something you were just speaking about (example: I haven't been mauled by an elephant, knock on wood). There are several possible crackpot reasons as to how this odd ritual came into practice.
It seems the superstition isn't as old as people claim. The earliest record of the phrase comes from 1908, long after many of its bizarre origins are supposed to occur. Regardless, there haven't been very many studies to see if knocking on wood really does help protect you, so it's hard to say if it really works, my money's on 'no'.

Answer 4

Some people are very superstitious and believe bad things will happen if they tempt fate. For instance some believe if they break a mirror then they get 7 years bad luck. Some believe it is unlucky to walk under a ladder. There are many silly superstitions and it just goes to show how paranoid people can be.

Answer 5

great point, if you ask who wrote the bible and in what language- I bet most of the people claiming 100% accuracy won't be able to cite the authors,language of origin, or even know the historical context in which the text was written. I have three different Russian to English translations of "We", a sci fi book by some dissent Soviet writer whose works were banned and destroyed under Stalin's regime- anyways- these books all tell the same story, but each copy is different in a few ways. things get lost in translation and interpreted differently depending on the individual. anyways- these texts are truer to the original story,than the original bible stories are to todays multiple translations. the bible has been translated from different languages,into different languages, and translated into english and reinterpreted differently by many people- it is ludicris for someone who is not a linguist/theology/history scholar to insist their translation of the bible is 100% accurate

Answer 6

It should be "knock on wood". It is a leftover from pagan days, when many felt spirits lived in the trees. Knocking on the wood awoke the spirit, when you could ask for some help.

Answer 7

I have my sister going touch wood all the time, she also goes looking for wood stuff. Very funny in action, I'll go, over there sis.

Answer 8

I have heard the expression , knock on wood, It is just something you say. When I say it I usually
knock on my head!

Answer 9

Further to which it is endless bad luck to cut down a hawthorn.
Americans also got the Black Cat superstion wrong, it's good luck for one to cross your path here.

Answer 10

in England it dates back to druid religion..to touch wood was to ask the old god Herne for luck/help he was a woodland god