The Legends of the Wood Spirits

In the 15th Century Europeans believed that evil spirits lived in the dense forests where the males hunted.

They believed that when the men went out to hunt for food and never returned that the evil spirits of the woods had taken them.

Wise travelers assured their safety by carving wood spirit images on walking sticks or pieces of wood and bark. These carvings appeased the spirits thus the traveler was allowed to enter and leave the forest

without difficulty.

So before entering the forest they would knock on the trees to wake up the sleeping spirit to protect them.

This is where the saying "knock on Wood" or "touch wood" came from.

The charming tradition of the carved wood spirit lives on today. Wood spirits are still being carved into pieces of wood and are often given as house-warming gifts, retirement gifts and Christmas gifts. The wood spirit carving should be given a special place within the home in order for it’s presence to bring wisdom, prosperity, humor, good health and good luck to all that live there.