Superstition

It's been said that trying someone's engagement ring on your left ring finger is bad luck for single women. Why? I'm not sure, but even though I know it's just an old wives tale, it's one superstition that I don't want to test! Since I love to try on engagement rings, I always slip them on my right hand, just in case. But what about you? Ladies, do tell, when you try on your a friend's engagement ring, do you put it on your right or left hand?

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Prior to the devastating earthquake in China, ponds drained, cows threw themselves about, and toads swarmed the streets — warning the people of the oncoming natural disaster. That's the story spreading around the Chinese blogosphere, according to the New York Times. As the rescue efforts continue, the Chinese are going online and asking why the government ignored these warning signs.

The toad invasion did in fact happen, spreading terror among residents prior to the quake. But despite the debunking of the rumor that the Communist government ignored scientific seismological warnings, bloggers are leveling powerful allegations that the government negligently contributed to the disaster by ignoring the harbingers.

The article explains that even well-educated Chinese subscribe to superstitions, such as omens, portents, and lucky numbers rooted in ancient cosmology. But the Communist Party is not following along. In fact, the government has arrested four people for spreading quake-related rumors. That's hardcore!

Do you think governments should be watching toads, or nature in general, as part of their emergency preparedness plans? Even if the Chinese government does not believe in superstitions, it has to deal with a population that does. How will China deal with its people who believe that the quake is a sign that things are not well?

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My best friend does it. Her mom does it. I see strangers do it at restaurants, and now I do it too. Whenever a salt shaker falls over and spills, they stand it back up, pick up a pinch of salt, and throw it over their shoulder.

It's one of those obscure superstitions that have been passed down, such as knocking on wood, or not opening an umbrella inside, that we can't help but do. I'm sure many of you are salt throwers too, but do you know where this originated?

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Ever since I could remember, I've been "knocking on wood." I learned it from my mother actually - she is an avid wood knocker. It's something we do to prevent something bad from happening. I'll say something like, "I've never gotten pregnant while on the Pill, knock on wood." Or "It looks like it'll be sunny for our BBQ this weekend, knock on wood." And I don't just say "knock on wood," I also find wood and literally knock my knuckles on it. It's definitely one of my superstitions, and in some way, I feel like if I don't do it, I'll have bad luck.

So where did this weird little phenomenon of "knocking on wood" or "touching wood" start anyway? The origin isn't really known, but in the early 1800s, kids used to play a game called "Tiggy-touch-wood," where they had to touch wood in order to be "safe." It could be that the phrase stuck all these years.

I've also heard that people used to "knock on wood" to awaken the kind tree fairies that lived in the woods in addition to preventing the Devil from hearing your bad comments.

I came across a children's book called "Knock on Wood, " so I know I'm not the only one who believes in this, but now I'm curious to know - do you "knock on wood?"

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