Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories A Sleepy Weekend of Superstitions: Part 2
Mar 17, 2026
A rainy stay in an Irish castle library leads to stories about the origins of common superstitions. Topics include the roots of touchwood and knocking on wood, why 13 and Friday the 13th gained notoriety, and the history behind saying bless you after sneezes. Other segments explore finger-crossing, lucky coins and personal talismans, plus a cozy hotel cat and the evolution of folk beliefs.
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Tree Tag As Ancestral Protective Ritual
- Tree Tag and phrases like touchwood/knock-on-wood trace back to pagan beliefs in spirits living in trees.
- Children touching a tree for safety invoked its spirit, evolving into modern gestures seeking protection.
Origins Of Unlucky Number 13
- The fear of 13 likely combines religious and mythic stories rather than a single origin.
- Examples include the Last Supper linking Judas as the 13th guest and Norse myths about Loki becoming an unwanted 13th presence, shaping Western unease with 13.
Calendar Rhythm May Explain 13's Oddness
- The number 13's oddness may stem from calendrical systems where 12 is a regular, harmonious cycle.
- Lunar-solar calendars sometimes add a 13th month, making 13 feel irregular compared with the familiar 12.