[tied] Re: When Germani?

--- In cybalist@..., jpisc98357@... wrote:

> 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

The Russians say 'postuc^i po derevu', Lithuanians 'pastuksenk i,
medi,', which means exactly (imperative) 'knock on wood'. The
circumstances and semantics are the same as well. Additional
constraints may be applied: eg, one should knock exaclty three times
and spit three times synchronously. Through lack of wood an ersatz
may be used - eg., a head, if one feels stupid enough :)

Sergei