Sign of the horns
The Corna (Italian for horns ') or mano cornuta (Italian for horned hand ') is a common in Italy vulgar gesture, but also a show of hands with various meanings, for example in the metal and rock scene.
It depends on the meaning also known as the Devil horns (, devil horns '), Devil Greeting, Greeting Satan, Satanistengruß, Goat horns, Hook ' em Horns, Throwing the Goat, French Fork, Fork Metal or Metal hand. The earliest known appearance of the horned hand are figures on Etruscan grave stones. In German and English usage, the faulty after Italian grammar name mano cornuto is in general use. The genus of the word mano (German, hand ') is female, which is why the grammatically correct expression mano cornuta should read.
Figure
The index finger and the little finger are spread away from the thumb while the thumb remains on it. This is very similar to a gesture that is common to different music genres, but is not fully accepted in Italy because of the possible confusion with the local variant. The hand signal must not be confused, however, with the character of the American sign language for the phrase " I love you" ( "I love you "), whereby the thumb is spread out to the side.
With the advent of e-mail and other text-based electronic communication channels, a left-sided slash, the small m and a right-side slash be used as representation: \ m /.
Meanings
Infidelity
If the "horns", ie the outstretched fingers, secretly shown behind the head of someone or clearly pointed to a person intended to convey this that the person of whose wife or husband was cheating, so a " horned " husband ( cuckold ) or a " horned " wife is.
Someone to show the " Corna " over your head when a picture is taken, is a common joke.
The origin is attributed to the legend of the Minotaur, who was born of the wife of the Cretan king Minos, Pasiphae, who had fallen in love with a white bull. The obvious evidence of betrayal, the horned offspring, was taken as its symbol.
Superstition
When these are mentioned or hinted When confronted with unfortunate events, or the person who wants to avert the calamity can fall back on the Corna. It is the popular version of the " On - wood - knocking ". Alternatively, the Italians " touch iron " ( toccaferro ). All of these gestures are to protect the performers in front of supernatural evil forces, for example, if a black cat crosses the path, you see a hearse or the person falls into any situation, from which it is assumed that this brings bad luck.
This meaning is mentioned Phantom of the Opera Gaston Leroux novel also. It says: " The ballet dancers made once the image of the Persian was conjured up the sign against the evil eye, by stretching out your index and little finger while the thumb, middle and ring fingers pressed on the palm. "
The Italian President Giovanni Leone shocked the nation in 1973, when he was on a visit to Naples, during a cholera outbreak, the hands of the sufferers shook with one hand and with the other hand behind his back, the Corna. This act was well documented, as all journalists and photographers were behind him, what President Leone was not well aware of at this moment. The gesture was interpreted as an insult especially the sick.
Metal
Often referred to in English Metal Sign, established itself in the German scene of the ironic term " French Fork ". It is pulled up together at concerts, to demonstrate the group feeling, the scene - identity and enthusiasm for the music.
Who has the characters ultimately incorporated into the metal scene, is highly controversial. Gene Simmons, bass player for Kiss, was raised in his autobiography Kiss and Make Up is the author of the gesture represents and argued that it was clear to see on the cover of Love Gun (1977 ) with it.
Ronnie James Dio, however, thought to have used the mark in his time as a singer in Black Sabbath first and thus introduced into the metal scene. Dio should know the character of his superstitious grandmother, who is said to have applied because they have protected it from the evil eye superstition (also see above). In the documentary Metal - A Headbanger's Journey, he shall use the word Maloik.
In addition, the sign on the LP Witchcraft: 1969 Destroys Minds & Reaps to see Souls of the psychedelic rock band Coven, which also contains probably the first recording of a Black Mass. Sometimes are also other meanings besides the ascribed importance of the universal greeting, such that it is a symbol of Satan, evil or mysticism. In addition to the metal, the sign is also partially used in rock music. It is interesting, however, that the gesture was in 1968 used by John Lennon on promo photos to the album Yellow Submarine of The Beatles and is also shown by the Lennon performing cartoon character posters and album covers for the animated film Yellow Submarine - performing over the head of Paul McCartney cartoon character. Elvis Presley used the gesture on October 28, 1956, when he sang in the transmitted from the TV Ed Sullivan Show Hound Dog. Presley was initially only with the index finger to the audience, in the further course, however, the gesture said. This scene was later used by Neil Young in his video, He Was The King.
For the fans of American football team Texas Longhorns University of Texas at Austin ( UT, University of Texas ), these hand signs for Hook 'em Horns. There it was introduced in 1955 by Harley Clark. It is the figure of the Texas Longhorn bull Bevo, the mascot of the University reproduce. Since 1916, a bull is there in each chosen to embody the mascot. Meanwhile, officiated the fourteenth Bevo. The hand sign is often shown at sporting events, during the Song of the school The Eyes of Texas or the Texas fight song be played Fight. It is one of the most famous show of hands of all U.S. universities.
Clark had the idea of his colleague Henry Pitts. Clark showed the sign enthusiastic students a few nights later at a meeting on " Gregory Gym". It was an immediate hit - thousands of students raised their arms to show off then famous greeting. The next day, a football game against the UT Texas Christian University, Clark stood there in awe as the " Hook 'em Horns " sign from one side of the stadium surged to another.
Tibetan Buddhism
In Tibetan buddhism, this hand sign is a mudra, a sacred gesture that one finds in the presentation of Buddhist nature and is used as a means to meditation. In Tibetan, it is called a " Karam " or " karana " and is a Bannungsgeste that is used to expel demons. They should represent the horns of a wild yak, pointing to an opponent. The gesture is usually, occasionally performed with the right with the left hand. The hand position is either horizontal or vertical. The gesture used in the preparation of Ekajata and Yama.