I am not a particularly SUPERSTITIOUS person, although in some ways the idea of being able to attribute good or bad things to something specific is sort of comforting. Still, I had a black cat growing up and he crossed my path many a time to no ill avail. And my lucky underwear haven't been particularly lucky...so I'm just not feeling the whole thing ;-)
Look here...
This is me knocking on wood. It seems to have become mandatory around the library. If you dare to try and leave the desk to the next person with the words "It hasn't been too crazy so far this afternoon" you better find some gosh darn wood to knock or they look at you like you just stabbed them through the heart. If you want to read about the origin of this SUPERSTITIOUS phrase and action, look HERE. Basically, though, knocking on wood is just supposed to protect you from the reversal of fortunes brought on by being optimistic or boastful. So, while I am not SUPERSTITIOUS myself, I am very susceptible to peer pressure...I figure yeah, I better knock on wood :) If there is no other wood around, it is funny to just use your head. One of those 'always gets a laugh' things...
I hope you got through your Friday the 13th safely, whether or not you are SUPERSTITIOUS. And I hope you have a safe and lucky weekend.
5 comments:
We're superstitious at work at the front desk. When someone takes my spot when my shift is over, sometimes I'll want to comfor them by saying it's been pretty quiet, but I can't say that out loud or the phone will blow up with a bunch of calls. Instead, I'll spell out the word "quiet". That seems to help sometimes.
Tara: haha! Oh my, exactly like my co-workers! Who knew keepers of public desks were so superstitious? :)
Hello, I've inherited some superstitions from family members. I just think we're all afraid of bad luck to one extent or another. I did hear once of someone who walked around a ladder instead of under it but it didn't do any good: he must have stepped off the kurb and was killed by a passing vehicle :-(
Oh great stuffs! I don't know how many times I have knocked on wood myself, generally joking but I still do it. I did not know where it came from, but I can see the whole wood spirit thing.
Sorry I am so late! I had family in town. All my energy went there.
I'm trained as a scientist and so not superstitious. However, I find superstitions amusing, so I do throw salt over my shoulder when I spill it, just for fun. And I pick four-leave clovers and lucky pennies when I find them. And I have always liked Friday the 13th - somehow, it's always a great day for me.
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