The Roots of Language Run Deep in Ancient Europe
Why do we say "knock on wood?" It is one of many speech forms surviving from primitive beliefs in spirits and nature. It's roots go so deep into history that they may be lost to time. We can, however, attempt to divine its derivations.
Rocks and trees, like the ones in this Swedish forest, were once widely thought to contain their own individual spirits. Mikael Damkier/iStockphoto hide caption
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