To cross one's fingers is a hand gesture commonly used to implore God for protection, as well
as to wish for good luck. The gesture is referred to by the common expression "keeping one's
fingers crossed" or just "fingers crossed" and has also been historically used in order
to allow early Christian believers to recognize one another during times of persecution.
Some people, mostly children, also use the gesture to excuse their telling of a white
lie. This may have its roots in the belief that the power of the Christian cross might
save one from being sent to hell for telling a lie. A similar belief is that crossing one's
fingers invalidates a promise being made.
Origin
In the time of the early Church, Christians would cross their fingers in order to invoke
the power associated with the Christian cross for protection, when faced with evil. Moreover,
Christians, when persecuted by the Romans, used the symbol of crossed fingers, along
with the Ichthys, in order to recognize one another and assemble for worship services.
In 16th century England, people continued to cross fingers or make the sign of the cross
in order to ward off evil, as well as when people coughed or sneezed.
Anecdotal use The 1787 A Provincial Glossary, with a Collection
of Local Proverbs, and Popular Superstitions by Francis Grose records the recommendation
to keep one's fingers crossed until one sees a dog to avert the bad luck attracted by walking
under a ladder. See also
Benediction God bless you
Sacramentals Sign of the Cross
Orans References
^ a b 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." ^ Deborah Aaronson, Kevin Kwan. Luck. HarperCollins
Publishers. 2008. pg. 24. "The common explanation for the power and prevalence of this gesture
is said to be related to the early Christians. Not allowed to worship Christ in public, his
followers showed secret solidarity by crossing their fingers."
^ 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. Again, this belief may have
its origin in Christian crucifix symbolism; calling on the power of the cross might save
one from being sent to hell for telling a lie."
^ de Lint, Charles. Widdershins. Macmillan. p. 287. ISBN 0765312859. Widdershins. Retrieved
2013-05-29. "To a child, forget ethics. Crossing your fingers while making a promise truly
invalidated the promise." ^ "The Truman Show," 1998. In the film, main
character Truman realizes his marriage is a farce when he discovers a wedding photo
of his wife with her fingers crossed." ^ Jim Jester. Real Israel. 2011. "When they
were persecuted in Rome, Christians would secretly come together with the sign of the
fish, and they would hold up their crossed fingers, as a Sign of the crossed emblem that
had once been on the vestments of the army of Barabbas. It became a custom everywhere,
for Christians when meeting, to make the sign of a cross by crossing their fingers."
^ "Why do people cross their fingers for luck?". Ask Yahoo!. Yahoo!. October 17, 2002. Archived
from the original on 2005-11-24. Retrieved 2013-05-29. "Faith in the power of the Christian
cross, therefore, was strong. A cough, a sneeze, or even a mention of a cold was reason enough
to cross yourself. The proper way to make the sign of the cross involves four steps
-- touch the forehead, heart, left shoulder, then right shoulder with you right hand. When
a suspected witch crossed your path, you could make a cross shortcut by crossing your index
and second finger or the index fingers of both hands. This would provide protection
and ward off the evil influence."