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".
Crossed fingers
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]
The crossed fingers gesture is believed to have originated with its resemblance to the Cross of Christ.[4] It gained traction, especially in 16th-century England, where people crossed their fingers to ward off evils and ill health.[5]
The practice of crossing fingers for luck or protection against misfortune is deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of the UK and parts of Scandinavia. Interestingly, this tradition is less familiar in mainland Europe. Its earliest documented reference is from 1912, linked to the superstition surrounding ladders. Remarkably, the crossed fingers gesture persists in school playgrounds, where it serves as a symbolic shield against perceived threats. [citation needed]
Crossed fingers remain a widely recognized and practised symbol, showing the enduring nature of cultural superstitions and protective rituals. The symbol is used as the logo of the UK National Lottery.
Related gesturesedit
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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed] 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]
^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."
^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."
^de Lint, Charles (2007). Widdershins. Macmillan. p. 287. ISBN978-0765312853. Widdershins. Retrieved 2013-05-29. To a child, forget ethics. Crossing your fingers while making a promise truly invalidated the promise.
^Marolt, Rick (2006). FYI - Bean Counters Have Sexy Ideas Too: Histories and Mysteries of Words Used in the Office. Three Winged Creations. p. 220. ISBN978-0-9777376-0-4. we started crossing our fingers in order to represent the cross of Christ, which grants a person protection from evil. Crossed fingers are dispayed in some Christian art, apparently with the meaning that "Christ is victorious".
^Tindall, Bruce; Watson, Mark (1994). How Does Olive Oil Lose Its Virginity?: Answers to the Enigmatic Questions of Contemporary Life. Quill. p. 106. ISBN978-0-688-12681-0.
^"Things not to do in Vietnam #1: "Crossed fingers"". Weirdwonderfulvietnam.wordpress.com. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
^"Vietnamese body language and what it means". Vietnameselanguage.wordpress.com. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
crossed, fingers, confused, with, finger, heart, fingers, crossed, redirects, here, other, uses, fingers, crossed, disambiguation, cross, fingers, hand, gesture, commonly, used, wish, luck, early, christians, used, gesture, implore, protection, holy, cross, ge. Not to be confused with Finger heart Fingers Crossed redirects here For other uses see Fingers Crossed disambiguation 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 Crossed fingers 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 Contents 1 Origin 2 Related gestures 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksOrigin editThe crossed fingers gesture is believed to have originated with its resemblance to the Cross of Christ 4 It gained traction especially in 16th century England where people crossed their fingers to ward off evils and ill health 5 The practice of crossing fingers for luck or protection against misfortune is deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of the UK and parts of Scandinavia Interestingly this tradition is less familiar in mainland Europe Its earliest documented reference is from 1912 linked to the superstition surrounding ladders Remarkably the crossed fingers gesture persists in school playgrounds where it serves as a symbolic shield against perceived threats citation needed Crossed fingers remain a widely recognized and practised symbol showing the enduring nature of cultural superstitions and protective rituals The symbol is used as the logo of the UK National Lottery Related gestures edit nbsp 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 citation needed 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 citation needed 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 editBenediction God bless you Orans Sacramentals Sfiga Holding thumbsReferences edit 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 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 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 Marolt Rick 2006 FYI Bean Counters Have Sexy Ideas Too Histories and Mysteries of Words Used in the Office Three Winged Creations p 220 ISBN 978 0 9777376 0 4 we started crossing our fingers in order to represent the cross of Christ which grants a person protection from evil Crossed fingers are dispayed in some Christian art apparently with the meaning that Christ is victorious Tindall Bruce Watson Mark 1994 How Does Olive Oil Lose Its Virginity Answers to the Enigmatic Questions of Contemporary Life Quill p 106 ISBN 978 0 688 12681 0 Things not to do in Vietnam 1 Crossed fingers Weirdwonderfulvietnam wordpress com 29 May 2015 Retrieved 13 December 2017 Vietnamese body language and what it means Vietnameselanguage wordpress com 29 May 2011 Retrieved 13 December 2017 Polish language Wikipedia trzymanie kciukow Drzati nekom palceve Idioms Lyricstranslate com Retrieved 13 December 2017 Panati Charles 1989 Panati s Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things New York Harper amp Row p 8 ISBN 978 0060964191 External links edit nbsp Media related to Fingers crossed at Wikimedia Commons Portal nbsp Christianity Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Crossed fingers amp oldid 1223640962, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
