Leftover wishes

According to legend, the Etruscans began the tradition of "making a wish while 2 person pulled a wishbone" thousands of years BC. The Etruscan Civilization occupied a section of Norther Italy 2600 years ago, and among many beliefs, felt that poultry contained magic properties. They would fight for the chicken or poultry collar bone (which reminds me of a diving rod) and pull it apart for luck.
The Romans noted this tradition, and they like it. More things they could do with bones! After reducing the Etruscan Civilization to miscellaneous rubble, pottery and crypts, they carried on with the tradition.
Over the years phrases like "never getting a lucky break", or "having a bone to pick" have survived this Etruscan tradition.