Touch or knock on wood is an old superstition based on the belief that spirits resided in trees and plants. You touch wood (some people say knock on wood) to ask for good luck or the spirit's blessings.
Knock on wood means you are hoping that it happens.
Knock on wood means you are hoping that it happens.
Knock on wood means you are hoping that it happens.
If you mean pumpkins or something for decoration, then I would say because they enjoy doing that.
Probably from sailors who would "touch the (wooden) ship" for good luck. Without a ship to touch, landlocked sailors may have used a piece of wood as a symbolic one.
All my children are healthy, knock on wood.
The exact origin of the phrase "knock on wood" is unknown, however many speculate that is could have come from rituals in early times where trees were considered sacred spirits. Others believe the phrase originated in Ireland. To knock on wood was to alert leprechauns that you were thanking them for giving you good luck. Another popular belief is that by knocking on wood you prevent the devil from hearing what you have just said, which in turn prevents the action from occurring. It is also possible that the origination of the phrase "knock on wood" is derived from Christianity and the wood is a reference to the cross on which Jesus was crucified.The British version of this expression, 'touch wood,' is supposed to have derived from a 17th century practice of warding off bad luck by touching something made of wood while saying 'absit, omen!'Phrase maven Gary Martin (please see link) says it became 'knock on wood' in the United States by the early 20th century.
"knock-knees" - a condition where the knees angle in and touch one another when the legs are straightened.Also called "Genu valgum"
The derivation may be the association that wood and trees have with good spirits in mythology, or with the Christian cross. It used to be considered good luck to tap trees to let the wood spirits within know you were there. Traditions of this sort still persist in Ireland. The British version - touch wood, had an earlier Latin version used when touching wood - absit omen!, meaning 'far be that omen from us'. This dates from at least the early 17th century, when it is quoted by Heywood. It isn't clear when touch wood began to be used. It must have been well-known by 1849, when The Boy's Own Book published the rules of a children's game that derived from the phrase: "This game is sometimes called 'Touch-iron' or 'Touch-wood'; in these cases the players are safe only while they touch iron or wood, as may be previously agreed. They are liable to be touched only when running from one piece of wood or iron to another." Knock on wood - the American version, is known from the early 20th century. For example, The Indianapolis Star, September 1908: "He is a promising looking youngster, and once we get on velvet (knock on wood!) the New York fans will get a chance to see him in action. When that time comes (knock on wood again!) it is more than likely that he will not disappoint."
Knock on Wood - Eddie Floyd album - was created in 1967.
Knock on Wood - 1998 was released on: USA: 1998 (Dances With Films Festival)
People knocking on wood is a superstitious act. People think that they say something bad and then knock on wood, it will not happen to them.