So I mentioned step on a crack, etc. and she said she learned in her family “see a nun touch a button.”
This is delightfully absurd. Anyone ever heard of it?
She: young, Jewish, parents professionals, suburbs NYC.
Moved to IMHO.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
I grew up Catholic, and was educated by nuns from kindergarten through eighth grade.
I never heard this.
That’s because you’re not supposed to touch any part of a nun. Especially not her button.
So going to hell you are. 
Bawahahahaha
A young novitiate at a monastery asked the priest if it was okay to kiss a nun. The priest said, “Yes, it’s okay, as long as you don’t get into the habit.”
Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
I’m Catholic and have never heard it before.
In any case it’s fairly meaningless nowadays. It’s difficult to recognise a nun because they no longer wear habits, other than in some of the newly-established traditionalist orders.
The word you want is ‘novice’. The word ‘novitiate’ refers to the period during which the novice tests his vocation, or sometimes to the building where the novices live.
coif coif
What’s black and white and red all over?
A nun with a spear through her head.
Anyway, never heard it. Grew up in West Texas and also lived in Albuquerque and Hawaii.
The closest thing I can remember is having to touch a screw (and hold your breath) when going over a bridge in a car.
I was raised Catholic and I have actually heard this but I never asked for an explanation. I didn’t hear it at chuch but from non-Catholic acquaintance. No good to you, I know. But I am witness to some people using the expression.