It is customary to place your hand on something wooden when saying the phrase ‘touch wood’ to try and ward off bad luck. If there’s no wood available, some people put their hand on their head! Although opinion about the origin of the phrase differs, some people believe it was linked to mythology of trees, which were thought to possess spirits. By knocking or touching the wood of the trees, the spirits would know you were there and would offer you good fortune.

按照惯例，在人们说“但愿走好运”这句话时，一般都会把他们的手放在树木或木制的东西上。如果周围没有木材的话，那么有些人则会把手放在头上敲两下。人们对这一起源的说道不一。一些人认为它与神话的树木有关，认为树木里拥有神灵。通过触摸树木，其中的神灵将会保佑你走好运。