
Trees: Honor the Trees
Clip: Special | 1m 4sVideo has Closed Captions
Why do we "knock on wood?"
Trees play a role in a number of religions and cultures. Find out more about sacred trees and why we “knock on wood.”
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Science Trek is a local public television program presented by IdahoPTV
Major funding for Science Trek is made possible by the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, with additional funding provided by the Idaho National Laboratory, and by contributions to the Friends of Idaho Public Television from viewers like you, thank you.

Trees: Honor the Trees
Clip: Special | 1m 4sVideo has Closed Captions
Trees play a role in a number of religions and cultures. Find out more about sacred trees and why we “knock on wood.”
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Science Trek
Science Trek is a place where parents, kids, and educators can watch short, educational videos on a variety of science topics. Every Monday Science Trek releases a new video that introduces children to math, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) career potentials in a fun, informative way.[MUSIC] JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN, HOST: Trees play a role in a number of religions and cultures.
The banyan tree is one of the resting places of the god Krishna, a major deity in Hinduism.
And the banyan tree is sacred to Buddhists too.
Yew, holly, oak, and ash trees were sacred to the ancient Celts.
The Vikings associated Thor, the god of lightning, with oak trees, maybe because oak trees were the tallest thing around and would get hit by lightning.
[THUNDER CLAP] The tradition of celebrating Christmas by decorating a tree started in Germany in the 16 hundreds.
It became popular in England and America after English Queen Charlotte and then Queen Victoria and Prince Albert put up a Christmas tree in their palace.
And we knock on wood for good luck because of an ancient belief that rapping on a tree would bring out the helpful spirits who live inside it.
So, there's lots of reasons to celebrate trees.
For more information about trees, check out the Science Trek website.
You'll find it at science trek dot org [MUSIC]
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Clip: Special | 1m 4s | Is there part of a tree in your lipstick? (1m 4s)
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Science Trek is a local public television program presented by IdahoPTV
Major funding for Science Trek is made possible by the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, with additional funding provided by the Idaho National Laboratory, and by contributions to the Friends of Idaho Public Television from viewers like you, thank you.
