Hocus Pocus (magic)

Mumbo-jumbo, too: hocus pocus fidibus ( pseudo- Latin re-creation of the 17th century ) is a spell whose meaning is not clarified properly.

Etymological theories

The origin of the expression is true despite various theories as largely unexplained.

Hoc est enim corpus meum

A widespread - and also to be found in etymological dictionaries - theory sees a connection with the celebration of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church, which was usually kept until the Second Vatican Council in Latin. The priest speaks during the conversion, the Konsekrationsformel: Hoc est enim corpus meum, German: "For this is my body. " This refers to the body of Jesus Christ. The people in the church who did not understand Latin, only heard something like mumbo jumbo. Since, according to Catholic understanding something is changed - namely the Host in the body of Jesus Christ - the spell was created.

Others suspect in this context, a deliberate parody of the Catholic ceremony by parts of the Reformation churches, who were endeavoring to replace the Latin in the services through the regional language. In fact, it is, in a parody of the English prelate John Tillotson 1694: In all probability Those common juggling words of hocus pocus are nothing else but a corruption of hoc est corpus, by way of ridiculous imitation of the priests of the Church of Rome in Their trick of transubstantiation.

Hax pax max deus adimax

The etymological dictionary of Pfeifer suspected alternatively a connection with another magic formula that is well attested since the 14th century, but certainly for 1563: hax pax max deus adimax. (in short: Haxpaxmax ). Their start had been mutilated later.

Hocus pocus iunior

Since the 17th century (first in 1624 ) is the magic formula, first in England and hocus pocus Hocas pocas occupied. Especially the 1634 London published book " Hocus Pocus Iunior. The anatomy of Legerdemain " by Elias Piluland ( copy of the original edition in the Bavarian State Library in Munich ) indicates hocus pocus filiocus, which is still used mainly in Sweden and Denmark in the long form. Iunior or filiocus not mean here but then the Son of God, but the Son of the conjurer. The Latin hocus called in English hoax and means joke, jokes, joking. And Hocas pocas is, then translates as sleight. Therefore, special forms such as squat bracket, Okesbockes, OxBox explain.

In the time of King James, a magician is even called " The Kings Majesties most excellent Hocus Pocus " and the spell " Hocus pocus, tontus talontus, vade celeriter jubeo " have used. Thus we read in Thomas Ady, A Candle in the Dark ( 1655, copy in the Bavarian State Library in Munich ): I will speak of one man ... that went about in King James his time ... who called himself, The Kings Majesties most excellent Hocus Pocus, and so was he called, Because did at the playing of every trick he used to say, Hocus pocus, tontus talontus, vade celeriter jubeo, a dark composure of words, to blind the eyes of the beholders, to make his trick pass the more currantly without discovery, Because When the eye and the ear of the beholder Both are earnestly busied, the trick is not so Easily Discovered, nor the Imposture discerned.

Hocus Pocus in Germany

The book by Elias Piluland was in 1667 by Henry Dean translated into German under the title Hocus Pocus or Pocket Player, is the art Auss the bags to play is quite clearly described; explains with beautiful figures that an ignorant could completely learn the same art hierauß after less exercise.

In German appeared, among others, 1675 Scripture Machiavelli shear Hocus Pocus Or Statistical Pocket Gauckel and fools game of the Jean- Potagischen thousand artists, Mons. Courtisan.

Even Goethe used the term Hockuspockus for a church ceremony, a candle consecration in the Sistine Chapel.

Transferred sense

In a figurative sense, the term ' hocus-pocus ", a big show of not recognizable acts.