Pleasant Grove Review | 1935-02-22 | Page 7 | Knocking on Wood

Knocking on Wood Knocking on wood la one of the most ancient of superstitions, writes G. H. Turner In the Kansas City Times. It originated more than 2,000 years ago among the druids, the powerful order of priests and judges who ruled the Celtic peoples of Gaul, Britain, and Ireland. These people, who embraced a primitive form of tree worship, believed that trees harbored protective spirits. Therefore, to rap on a tree, the dwelling place of a friendly spirit, was to Invoke the spirit of the tree to protect one against Impending misfortune. Knocking on wood Is, of course, the equivalent of knocking knock-ing on a dead tree.