Ever hear the expression "Touch wood!" or "Knock on wood!" This was a common English phrase growing up in my home. The gist of the superstition, or attraction magic, goes something like this:  when you have avoided misfortune and say something that could be perceived as bragging about your good luck; you are tempting fate and thus must immediately protect yourself from any repercussion or reversal of your good fortune, by touching or knocking on wood.

Some examples:

• You stumble on the stairs but grab the hand railing in time to avoid falling. "That was a near thing. I could have really hurt myself!"
• "I never keep store receipts because I never have to return anything."
• "I'm on a winning streak!"

Before you utter these sorts of statements; make sure you say 'touch wood' and are actually touching something made of wood. Another version is to knock briskly on the wood. I'm extra careful to make sure that I am actually touching real wood as I don't believe laminates or MDFs hold the same magical properties! Since this practice may have arisen out of tree worship and a belief in dryads or tree spirits dwelling within each tree; it makes sense that only real wood will save you.

But what if you have said something that requires averting the ill will of the fates and no wood can be found within your sight? In that case, and that case only, you are allowed to knock on your head. This is based on the rather unflattering belief that if you are stupid, your head is made of wood. But when the stakes are this high ... being a little humble is in your best interest ... so knock away!

Common sense seems to be in short supply these days.  Or is it only me who feels this way?  I do hope that common sense is making a comeback and actually I think we might be on the way!  We simply can't go on the way we have been unless we go back to "showin' a bit o' common".  

"Show a bit of common, mate!"  is an English expression that is usually expressed in exasperation when someone does something that is just too ridiculous to explain to them and begs that common sense be applied to the situation.  One of my favourite TV characters, Stan Butler, used this expression in "On the Buses", a popular British television series in the 1970s.  It just got added to my vocabulary!

These are English expressions used to describe something done for a bit of carefree fun; usually on a sudden impulse or whim.  It can be silly and gay.  It can be mischievous - but never malicious.

"Come on, join me in the three-legged race ... it will be a lark!"

Marie decided to buy a new hat on a lark.

The children turned their desks around backwards, just for a lark, before the teacher came into the room. 

"Stop larking about and turn those desks back 'round front", she laughed.

Sigh, I definitely need to go on a lark right now!!

This lovely refined image above is subtly carrying on the tradition of the likely much more sensual predecessor of "Maying"; with a sweet lady in front continuing the search for her fellow; while a courting couple trails behind ...

"Don't step on a crack or you'll break your Mother's back" (old nursery rhyme)

"The straw that broke the camel's back" (minor annoyances add up to a breaking point)

"Don't break your back" (don't work hard for no result/recognition)

​How appropriate then that even now, bunnies are often shown as a young girl's companion in modern art or home decor.  Perhaps, in older times, the Spring Maiden, or Ostara, was accompanied by an Oster Hare, as the Easter Bunny is called in Germany.  There is some contention on this matter as to whether or not the Spring Goddesses of ancient days were connected with hares, eggs and other symbols of Spring at all ... or if it is a more modern connection recorded around the time that the Grimm Brothers collected their fairy tales.  It matters little to us plebeians! In the eternal mind, the connection was made because it is the correct one.  Bunnies and girls both represent youth, vitality and beginnings ... in every way the very essence of Spring!  ​