From: jpisc98357@...
Message: 9171
Date: 2001-09-07
--- In cybalist@..., celteuskara@... wrote:
> I notice Piotr said "touch wood" once, but this might've been just
a rhetorical flourish. A Bulgarian friend of mine found it rather
amusing that we touch wood in England, much the same way as his
peasant ancestors! Probably a PIE trait, eh?
>
This superstition flourishes in Russia and Lithuania as well.
Sergei
Dear Sergei.
Here in the USA we say "Knock on wood" to avert the evil occurring
because its name has been spoken. It implies that talking about some evil
can in some sense cause it to become fact and the act of touching or knocking
on wood will cancel out the implied curse.
Best regards, John Piscopo
http://www.johnpiscoposwords.com
PO Box 137
Western Springs, IL 60558-0137
(708)246-7111