Good Luck People One's Bad Rituals Make Common

Many people "engage in" (participate in; do) certain actions to "ensure" (make sure that they have or get) good luck. One common "ritual" (an action performed repeatedly in the same way) is to "knock on wood," gently "rapping one's knuckles" (hitting the bony part where one's fingers bend) against a table or another wooden surface for good luck. This is especially common when one is talking about something good that might happen, and knocking on wood is thought to make that more likely.

Sometimes people "cross their fingers" for good luck, twisting the index finger and middle finger around each other and holding them up for others to see. Some people even say "cross my fingers" when doing this. The "gesture" (movement of one's hands) can mean that one hopes something will happen, or can "emphasize" (give importance to the fact) that one is telling the truth, depending on the "context" (what is happening at the time).

Some people even throw salt over their "shoulder" (the top part of one's arm and torso, next to the neck) for good luck. "Traditionally" (in the past), the salt was thought to "blind" (make it impossible for someone to see) the devil or other "evil" (very bad) spirit that creates bad luck.

Some women cut a "lock" (a section of hair) of their baby's hair and place it in a "locket" (a necklace with a small box or pocket that holds a picture or another item) that they wear around their neck for good luck.

Finally, many athletes engage in rituals for good luck. For example, many soccer players untie and retie their "shoelaces" (the strings that keep a shoe closed and tight against the foot) before a game. And other ball players get a haircut before each major or important game.