Touching wood. Touching iron. And touching…

In many countries, superstition dictates that someone should ‘touch wood’ to prevent a comment they just made from tempting fate. In Italy, we prefer to ‘touch iron’ instead. This came from the fact that metal used to be considered precious and slightly magical. However, should the need arise and there is no iron within reach, there is something equally precious that the fate-tempter can grab – their private parts. Women are supposed to put their hand on their left breast and men cup themselves, both gestures of preserving fertility and protecting it from fate.