The third finger on our left hands is our ring finger. It’s the ring we place engagement rings on and wear we wear our wedding rings. It’s a very important finger in the grand scheme of things. But where do all of these different finger meanings come from.
The Ring Finger
Well over 2000 years ago, Greek physicians believed that a special vein of love connected the ring finger to the heart. Because of this, the finger became naturally associated with affairs of the heart and placing a ring on it bound the heart to a commitment. The ring finger is only one finger out of ten and located only on one hand out of two.
What Else Is Associated With Our Hands?
The crossing of fingers is about seeking good luck. Many historians believe that crossing your fingers comes from the Pre-Christian belief that a cross symbolizes the perfection of unity. The intersection point of where your two fingers touch is said to possess a mystical quality that will hold a wish until it is fulfilled.
The thumbs up or thumbs down comes from popular lore associated with Roman emperors and whether or not a defeated gladiator’s life could be spared. Though many historians dispute this myth, it endures to this day. The thumbs up meant the gladiator could live, the thumbs down meant he died.
Have you ever thumbed your nose at someone? You put your thumb to the tip of your nose and fan your fingers out – in most parts of the world, this is a hand signal well recognized as an insult. So what does it mean? Well, some believe it is a mock of the military salute and others believe that it’s a graphic insult about how someone stinks.
In American culture, there is the bird, the extension of the middle finger on either hand. It’s considered a freeway salute or insult, expressing displeasure or irritation with someone else. Despite it’s constant appearance in American popular culture, it actually dates back to the days of the Romans. They called it the digitus impudicus or the finger without shame. It was a symbol of phallic aggressiveness and usually invoked as part of a challenge between males.
Of all of these different hand and finger meanings – it’s the crossing of fingers and ring finger that are the best. Still – has anyone told you to talk to the hand lately? That’s a more modern vernacular associated with the idea that you don’t want to hear what the other person is saying.
Have a great Friday morning!
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