Written by Language is one of humanity’s most powerful forms of magic. And many phrases we use daily carry the remnants of ancient beliefs, folk wisdom, and yes, witchcraft. These common expressions, woven into our everyday conversations, are linguistic spells that connect us to centuries of magical thinking and supernatural beliefs. Most people have no idea they’re invoking protection, warding off evil, or calling upon ancient powers when they casually drop these phrases into conversation.
Let’s explore the fascinating witchy origins behind some of our most common sayings and discover the hidden magic in our everyday speech.
“Knock on Wood” / “Touch Wood”
What We Say: We knock on or touch wood after making a positive statement to prevent jinxing ourselves.
The Witchy Origins: This practice has multiple magical roots, all centered around the belief that trees house, protective spirits. The phrase comes from at least the 19th century, with reports of it originating in pagan communities around the world, including the Celts.