Wood

木头

Back in pagan times, trees were considered as sacred symbol of immortality. Touching the tree was a sign of respect to the gods after a favor has been requested, or thanks to the gods for a request that had been fulfilled.

早在异教徒的时代，树就被视为是永生不朽的神圣象征。人们在祈求神灵庇佑之后，会触摸树以示对神灵的尊敬；或者是在祈求得到应验后，触摸树以表达对神灵的感激。

After the English embraced Christianity, the people retained their belief that wood is holy as Christ died on a wooden cross. People at that time wore wooden crucifixesandoften touched them as a sign of penitence.

在英国人皈依基督教之后，人们依旧坚信树是神圣之物，因为耶稣就是被钉死在木制十字架之上的。当时的人们佩戴木制的十字架，并且经常触摸它们以示忏悔。

Even now, people who are superstitiouswill try to touch or knock on wood after gloating, talking bad things about other people, making any rash statement of intent or so on, so that the action will get rid of any bad lucks during the day.

甚至现在，迷信的人还都会在沾沾自喜、讲别人坏话、说出任何轻率的言论或者是做出类似的事情时，试着去触摸木头或者敲打木头，期望这样做能够驱除一天之中所有的霉运。