Superstition

Is it Good or Bad?
 Introduction

A superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-

practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate
or magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that
which is unknown. It is commonly applied to beliefs and
practices surrounding luck, amulets, astrology, fortune telling,
spirits, and certain paranormal entities, particularly the belief
that future events can be foretold by specific unrelated prior
events.
CONTENT

Knocking on wood

crossing the fingers

Final thoughts
 I
Knocking on
wood
 What are
the commonly held theories

Pagan Culture The Christians Tiggy Touchwood

Spirits and gods resided in

The wood of the cross The Lore of the Playground
trees
 Knock on wood nowadays

While the origins of “knock on wood” may never be known for

certain, the superstition remains popular around the globe and
has even given rise to several local variations.
• Turkish people often pull on one earlobe and knock on
wood twice to ward off a jinx.
• Italians, meanwhile, say the phrase “touch iron” when
trying to avoid tempting fate.
• In modern day England, the expression "touch wood" is
more commonly heard than "knock on wood".
 II
crossing the
fingers
 The two theories
Because the origins of this gesture are somewhat murky, it is commonly believed that the sign originated
from early Christianity or pre-Christianity. While there is no solid proof of any one theory, the prevalence of
crossing your fingers in cultures with a Christian background lends some credence to the claim. This idea is
further supported by noting that the gesture is not common among Muslim or Buddhist cultures.

Christianity
invokes the power associated with
Christ’s cross

Sacred geometry
spirits lived at the
intersection of crosses
 Related gestures

Pressing thumbs

In German-speaking countries
and also Sweden and Latvia,
wishing for luck is gestured by
holding thumbs.

In South Africa, the related phrase "duim

vashou" means "holding thumbs tightly".
 Is it good or bad?

Whilst rituals and compulsions can be performed to relieve

anxiety, the former tends to be conducted solely in contexts
where a positive outcome is expected, and the latter occurs
based on a stimulus-response (S-R) association.
Indeed, research suggests that the higher the levels of stress,
anxiety, and uncertainty, the more individuals engage in
ritualistic behavior, in an attempt to control the environment
and regulate negative emotions.
Is it good or bad?

Performing rituals, therefore, not only boosts

confidence and feelings of self-efficacy, but also
provides a reward in itself, as completing a sequence
of rigid motor actions satisfies a natural need for order
and allows the individual to regain control of the
environment by returning to a state of 'low-entropy', in
which the amount of uncertainty is reduced to a
manageable level.
 FINAL THOUGHTS

To conclude, differentiate between good and bad superstition. Use good ones to your
benefit. No one will if you keep your superstition ritual handy when in find yourself in an
uncertain and difficult situation if it makes you feel better.

However, a word of caution - do not get too obsessive with any belief or lucky charm.

Trust that “Hard Work Always Pays”!

Thanks!
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/what-does-knock-on-wood-mean-history
https://www.grammar-monster.com/sayings_proverbs/knock_on_wood.htm
https://www.history.com/news/why-do-people-knock-on-wood-for-luck
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/fingers-crossed-youre-not-toosuperstitious/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44638847_Keep_Your_Fingers_Crossed
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/superstition-good-bad-kanu-chaudhary
https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-origin-of-crossing-your-fingers-for-luck.htm
https://www.plansponsor.com/tuesday-trivia-cross-fingers-good-luck/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossed_fingers
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