Fumsup, Touchwood and Good Luck Charms

Fumsup, Touchwood and Good Luck Charms

March 2021

An old poem reads something like; “Behold in me, the birth of luck, two charms combined, touchwood and fumsup.” Fumsup was one of the favoured good luck charms of pilots during the World Wars. These are small cherub faced dolls gesturing thumbs-up with both hands. The Irish added four-leafed clover on the doll's forehead to personalize these talismans. 'Fumsups' were also carried by soldiers as lucky charms. Touch wood still continues to remain a good luck ritual or an action to ward of an evil eye. Most people know that beliefs in talisman or good luck charms are superstitions but that has not stopped most of us from favouring some ritual or charm to bring us luck.

People confronting high risk situations or wars such as soldiers or pilots are more likely to display odd behaviors or believe in trusted rituals or good luck charms. This to a large extent is known to relieve stress and anxiety. Pilots are particularly known to have strong beliefs in good luck charms and many of the ilk have funny superstitions. One knows of pilots who continue to wear old tattered chamois leather gloves for a sortie because these assure excellent performance. One of the funniest or strangest ritual of New Zealand pilots during second world war was dancing on the aircraft wing with an open umbrella before getting into the cockpit of their bombers. Apparently, it ensured a safe return post the bombing run to Germany. As compared to this, kicking the tyre or sticking chewing gum on the instrument panel seems pedestrian. During World War One when flying was somewhat of a glamorous but a highly risky hobby, pilots went to ridiculous extent. One French pilot always wore his girlfriend's stocking and another was more creative and carried his girlfriend's garter, removed on a moonlit night. Many pilots during the World War carried a rabbit's paw. Not any paw. It had to be a pink left paw. German pilots were known to scribble their girlfriend's initials on the aircraft and get into cockpit only from the left side. Pilots for a long time have been wary of the number 13 and black cats. In many cases, pilots avoid flying on Friday the thirteenth or if a black cat is seen. There is also the story of a Boeing 747 pilot who wears the same lucky underwear when it is time to perform.

This superstitious belief in good luck charms is not restricted to pilots only. Hard headed scientists known for their disbelief in miracles still have good luck charms. Neil Bohr, the father of quantum theory had a horse shoe nailed above the entrance door. When asked about this he is said to have replied that he didn't believe in it, "but, people say it brings luck even if you don't believe in it".  Strange indeed. It is reported that an Israeli politician always wears his lucky underwear on election day. There is also the case of a rational lawyer who insists on eating idlis and wadas in a particular restaurant on the identified table before the verdict in important cases is to be pronounced. He says that this brings him luck and always leads to winning the case.

Good luck charms or objects to ward off an evil eye have been with us from the earliest of times. It is said that these are linked to cultures. Golden toads or bats in China, scarabs in Egypt and swastik in India are good luck charms, whether held in the hand or worn around the neck. Rationality does not imply leaving beliefs behind. Atheists though not believing in God still believe in lucky and unlucky numbers; it is only the belief in future success that motivates entrepreneurs to start businesses or for immigrants to leave everything behind and move to unknown countries. Beliefs in good luck charms or talismans to a large extent gratify the emotional needs of human beings. Rationality is therefore, unlikely to stop the penchant for talismans, good luck charms or trusted rituals. In short don't worry too much about the old gloves you love wearing or even the lucky underwear, if it guarantees superior performance.