Crossed fingers

To cross one's fingers is a hand gesture commonly used to wish for luck. Early Christians used the gesture to implore the protection of the Holy Cross.[1] The gesture is referred to by the common expressions "cross your fingers", "keep your fingers crossed", or just "fingers crossed".

The use of the gesture is often considered by children as an excuse for telling a white lie.[2] By extension, a similar belief is that crossing one's fingers invalidates a promise being made.[3]

Origin

Historically, the origins of this sign may be unclear, although it was likely propagated through the supposition of its likeness to the Cross of Christ.

In some sources it is claimed that in 16th-century England, fingers would be crossed in place of the Sign of the Cross to ward off evils and ill health.[4]

The act of crossing fingers for luck or to ward off ill luck is a well-understood gesture in the UK and parts of Scandinavia, but less so in mainland Europe. Its earliest recorded reference dates back to 1912 and is linked to the ladder superstition. The gesture is still used in school playgrounds as a protective action. The popular explanation for its origin, dating back to classical times when Christians were persecuted, is unfounded due to its late appearance, restricted distribution, and lack of relation to the shape of a cross.[5]

Pressing thumbs as gesture to wish for luck in German-speaking and many Slavic countries

In Vietnam the gesture is considered rude,[6][7] especially to another person. Referring to female genitals, it is comparable to the middle finger in American culture.

In German-speaking countries and also Sweden and Latvia the gesture is a sign of lying. Instead, wishing for luck is gestured by holding thumbs. The same gesture is used in many Slavic countries such as Poland,[8] the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and ex-Yugoslav[9] republics. In South Africa, Afrikaans speakers also have the related phrase "duim vashou" meaning "holding thumbs tightly".

In pre-Christian Western Europe, a related gesture had two people crossing their index fingers to form a cross, which represented perfect unity; this gesture was used to make wishes.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Orange Coast Magazine. Emmis Communications. May 1990. pg. 177. "In early Christian days, a believer confronted by evil or hostile influences implored the power of the Holy Cross for protection by twisting his middle finger over his forefinger and holding the remaining fingers down with his thumb."
  2. ↑ Field Guide to Gestures. Quirk Books. 2003. pg. 201. "Children are a big proponent of this gesture, though they usually use it when telling white lies, believing that having the fingers crossed behind the back makes it okay to fib."
  3. ↑ de Lint, Charles (2007). Widdershins. Macmillan. p. 287. ISBN 978-0765312853. Widdershins. Retrieved 2013-05-29. To a child, forget ethics. Crossing your fingers while making a promise truly invalidated the promise.
  4. ↑ Good Housekeeping, Volume 226. International Magazine Company. 1998. Crossing fingers: This was a Sign of the Cross that early Christians could use to avert bad luck without attracting the notice-and wrath-of pagans.
  5. ↑ "crossing fingers". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  6. ↑ "Things not to do in Vietnam #1: "Crossed fingers"". Weirdwonderfulvietnam.wordpress.com. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  7. ↑ "Vietnamese body language and what it means". Vietnameselanguage.wordpress.com. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  8. ↑ Polish-language Wikipedia: trzymanie kciuków
  9. ↑ "Držati (nekom) palčeve. - Idioms". Lyricstranslate.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  10. ↑ Panati, Charles (1989). Panati's Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things. New York: Harper & Row. p. 8. ISBN 978-0060964191.
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