[JenB]

Uh, well, no. It looks like something you'd do before a battle but I have no idea - my notions of sword battles come from books and movies, not necessarily the best places. I don't think it's an explicitly Tolkien thing, if that's what you're asking.

[Penny1]

It seems like something that might have its roots in medieval writings, though I couldn't say that with any confidence. I will check and see if it's mentioned in any of the stuff I have at home (if I remember to look it up, that is). I'm thinking it particularly would show up in accounts of medieval jousts and that sort of thing.

[Sam Cree]

I don't remember having read about it in the book(s), but also don't know if it's grounded in medieval tradition or if Jackson thought it up or what. It looks almost religous.