medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
As children, we used to cross fingers behind our backs when making promises
we had no intention of keeping, as well as for the more obvious purpose of
making a wish come true. So there may be something in the idea of crossed
fingers as an alternative sign of the cross, but as for the cultural
imperialism bit... I thank heaven I don't have to deal with students as pc
as that, and touch wood (ha, there's a potential strand to this discussion!)
that I never will. Speaking as a Jew, perhaps I shouldn't touch wood or
cross fingers, but you cultural imperialists have got to me.
----- Original Message -----
From: Theresa Gross-diaz <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2001 7:11 PM
Subject: Re: Sign of the Cross:folk versions?
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Christopher's speculation put me in mind of subway conductors blowing the
evil demons out of the PA system before announcing the next stop. Less
frivolously, it also reminded me of a student last semester, easily
affronted type, who accused me of cultural imperialism when I jokingly
crossed my fingers. It seems he took this as an invocation of the Christian
crucifix which he did not acknowledge and did not wish me to impose on him.
Imagine my surprise. But--as long as we're on to folk survivals---is there
in fact anything in his claim?
TGD
>>> [log in to unmask] 02/14 5:27 AM >>>
== From John Hall <[log in to unmask]> ==
>> Blowing out or away as an exorcism or in token of renunciation of the
devil
>> New Oxford Shorter English Dictionary 1993
>>
>> "Christopher M. Mislow" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> "Exsufflating"? This is a new term to me (and to my supposedly
unabridged
>> Random House dictionary). What, praytell, does it -- and the action of
>> exsufflating idols -- denote?
Please forgive the admittedly off-topic speculation, but perhaps this
practice is the origin of (or kindred to) that of "whistling in the
graveyard" to ward off evil spirits.
--Christopher
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