Anyone familiar with the superstition of knocking on wood? The superstition is intended to ward off jinxing yourself. Especially if you say something you don’t want to happen. It’s to avoid tempting fate or mentioning anything negative that could hurt you.

For example, “I’m sure it’s not going to snow tonight.” Whether said sarcastically or not, I’d knock on wood. Talking about your own death or something similar is another reason to knock on wood.

In some parts of the world, it’s done to avoid changing something good that has or will happened. For example, if you got a job promotion, you’d knock on wood.

Typically, the person knocks on a tree or wood surface three times. Depending on where you’re from, the number of times you knock on the wood, what else can be knocked on (such as your own head), what CAN’T be knocked on, what’s said at the same time, or what this is even called depends on your region.

The origins of the superstition is a bit unknown. It’s popularly believed that the point of knocking on wood is to ask the spirits of the wood or tree or fate for protection or to shake off the intended jinx. However, the widespread usage has some folklorists suggest a connection to the crucifixion cross or even the playground game of tag.

Not everyone that knocks on wood actually believes in the superstition. It may be more of a social or cultural habit. Everyone around you does it, so you do too.

In it’s most basic form (knocking on wood for superstitious reasons), this superstition is seen widely aroud the world.

I use this superstition often and knock on a wooden beaded bracelet I wear to facilitate it. However, I keep my jewelry minimal when I’m working on a computer or staying home. That means I sometimes get caught without wood to knock on within easy reach.

But… what’s the definition of wood here? I learned the superstition without any exemptions, so for me, I just knock three times. Any kind of wood.

So… do plants count? Trees count. That’s often considered the origin of the superstition. If living trees count, then do the stems of plants? The leaves? Anything made from plant fibers?

Can you knock on a book? Paper itself? A walnut? A peacan pie? Can you knock on a sweatshirt made from plant materials? How much plant material’s necessary to qualify for the superstition? This isn’t a practical question – it would be nearly impossible to test this. It’s down to personal opinion and practice. How much wood or wood-like substances count before the meaning is lost?

Personally, I’ve knocked on books, paper, a variety of nuts, and in a moment of half-joking desperation, a sweatshirt made from mostly bamboo fiber and plant-based fiber.

What do you think? How far is too far until the superstition loses meaning to you?

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