Hi Folks
Regarding Piotr's post below, European archaeology confirms the
importance of sacred groves, springs and wells over a very long
period. Could "touching wood" to ward off bad luck, alonside casting
coins into "wishing wells", or "taking the waters" be a survival of
European paganism?
Any thoughts?
Regards
John
> One touches wood to ward off bad luck, or more specifically to
prevent the fulfilment of something one has just said: "I've never
been to hospital -- touch wood!" (or "knock on wood!" in American
English) -- in this case, cancelling an untimely boast lest the gods
should make sure that you _do_ go to hospital. In Poland (and I think
in Holland too) people often actually accompany the words with a
knock on the (preferably unpainted) underside of a table top.
>
> Piotr
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Che
> To: cybalist@...
> Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2001 12:53 AM
> Subject: Re: [tied] Touch wood
>
>
> Does this "touch wood" mean "I hope we're lucky"? If it does, it's
funny to think why some languages have "touch iron" and
others "wood". I had only heard this "wood" thing in Spanish. Anybody
knows about it? (maybe some kind of Roman stuff?)