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by ThatCrazySk8erKid on October 5th, 2006
Like most superstitious habits, there is no rationale behind it, only superstition.
"Knock on wood" is an Americanized version of the older English phrase "touch wood". It is believed that by being a tree hugger you will grant yourself protection against something you were just speaking about (example: I haven't been mauled by an elephant, knock on wood). There are several possible crackpot reasons as to how this odd ritual came into practice.
Some think has to do with spirits who live in trees, and that by touching the tree would call their protection, or if the spirits were mischievous it would sedate them. A possible Irish origin claims that you knock on wood to let the leprechauns know you are thanking them for good luck. Some say it goes back to an old children's game of tag where you were safe while touching a tree. A Christian origin claims that touching wood helps remind us of the cross on which Jesus was crucified while a Jewish version says it appeared during the Spanish Inquisition when Jews built secret temples which required special knocks to gain admission.
In the end however, it seems the superstition isn't as old as people claim. The earliest record of the phrase comes from 1908, long after many of its bizarre origins are supposed to occur. Regardless, there haven't been very many studies to see if knocking on wood really does help protect you, so it's hard to say if it really works, my money's on 'no'.
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