Sign of the horns
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The corna (Italian for horns, also mano cornuta, horned hand) is a gesture with a vulgar meaning in Mediterranean countries and a variety of meanings and uses in other cultures. Its origins can be traced to Ancient Greece. It is realized by extending the index and little fingers while holding the middle and ring fingers down with the thumb.
The corna is not to be confused as the sign for "I love you" in American Sign Language, which is made by also extending the thumb, or the shaka sign used in Hawaii, which is made by extending just the thumb and little finger, or the "Hook 'em Horns" sign used by fans of University of Texas athletics.
Terminology
The spelling "mano cornuto" is erroneous, the grammatical gender of the word mano (meaning "hand") is actually feminine (la mano), and the expression should therefore be "mano cornuta", to be pronounced /'mano kor'nuta/. However, the form "mano cornuto" is commonly found in English and German.
In German it's often called 'Pommesgabel'.
As a sign of Infidelity
In contemporary Italy, if the "horns", i.e., the stretched fingers, are surreptitiously placed behind someone's head, or explicitly pointed at a person, the conveyed meaning is that that person is being cheated on by his wife or (more rarely) her husband. Hence the Italian cornuto, that translates literally to having horns, but figuratively means cuckold. The gesture is also common in Spain (known as los cuernos), Portugal and Brazil (cornos) and Czech Republic (known as paroháč) and has the same meaning.
To place corna on someone's head when taking a picture is a common joke, and young Italian tourists in foreign countries might be noticed looking nervously over their shoulders when taking group pictures. This was especially effective in the days of film cameras, while today's digital cameras somewhat tend to spoil the surprise effect. This joke is also practiced in other countries, but the index and middle fingers are used, and is known as "rabbit ears". However, the "rabbit ears" gesture does not have any associations with infidelity, and is considered simply as a humorous prank. The previous Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi was also seen displaying the corna in some mundane happenings, the most famous being a meeting where he put them over the Spanish's ex foreign minister Piqué.[1]
The profession most likely to receive the insult cornuto is above all the football referee, since it is customary among Italians (and, it could be argued, all countries with organized sports) to blame one's favourite football team's defeat on to an (allegedly) incompetent, corrupt or otherwise unfit referee. This cliché is so common that it has become a stereotype.
The origin is traced by some as far as the legend of the Minotaur, who was born from queen Pasiphaë and a white bull, betraying king Minos of Crete; the most prominent proof of the betrayal, the horned offspring, was taken as its symbol.
Superstition
When confronted with unfortunate events, or just when these are mentioned or suggested, a person wanting to avoid that fate could resort to the corna to ward off bad luck. It is a more vulgar equivalent of knocking on wood. Interestingly, superstitious ones can alternatively "touch iron" (tocca ferro), which is not considered as vulgar, or grab their testicles [citation needed], which is considered very vulgar, but is perhaps the most commonplace of the three. All of these gestures are meant to somehow conjure some supernatural power to protect the performer of the gesture.
Such gestures are typically used when a black cat crosses one's path, when seeing a hearse (no matter whether it is loaded), or when encountering any situation, object or person believed to bring about bad luck. It was once thought to prevent or distract the effects of the Evil Eye, that is of intentional or directed curses. Historically the gesture was pointed at people suspected of being witches.
President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone shocked the country when, visiting Naples during an outbreak of cholera, shook the hands of the patients with one hand, and with the other, behind the back, made the corna. This act was well documented, as all journalists and photographers were right behind him, a fact that had escaped President Leone's mind in that moment. The gesture was interpreted especially as offensive for the patients.
The gesture is also associated with an Italian curse, wherein the index and pinky finger are pointed at an offender.
North American popular culture
Satanism
Anton LaVey popularized it as a Satanic salute in the 1960s. His image was often in the press, and the sign appears on many of his photos, such as on the back of the Satanic Bible. It is still used by Satanists everywhere.[citation needed].
Rock and Heavy Metal Music
It also has a variety of meanings in heavy metal and is known by a variety of terms: devil sign, devil horns, goat horns, metal horns, metal sign, throwing the goat, evil fingers, Pommesgabel (Pommes = fries, Gabel = fork), mano cornuto, peka evil, the horns, also "Rock Fist" or Rock on "Visel" in some U.S. rock music subcultures.
Gene Simmons claimed to have first introduced the sign to heavy metal, when he was shown extending his little finger on the cover of KISS' 1977 album Love Gun, although his claim is disputed: "A casual glance at this [album] cover would suggest he is correct. However, there are two points of contention that refute this. First of all, he is holding it [his hand] to his side, jutting from his hip ... Secondly, and most importantly, he isn't really making the sign! We have enlarged the section of the artwork ... to show that his thumb isn't covering his middle two fingers but resting at the side of his index finger." On the other hand Gene Simmons has, even before the Love Gun LP, showed this sign on stage or during photo sessions (for example Japan, April 1977). Gene was inspired by 60's Marvel comics, especially Dr Strange and also Spider-Man.
In heavy metal music, Ronnie James Dio also used this sign. His Italian grandmother used it to ward off the evil eye (malocchio). Dio began using the sign soon after joining (1979) the metal band Black Sabbath. The previous singer in the band, Ozzy Osbourne, was rather well known at using the "peace" sign at concerts, raising the index and middle finger in the form of a V. Dio, in an attempt to connect with the fans in a similar manner to Ozzy, wanted to use a similar hand gesture. However, not wanting to copy Osbourne, he chose to use the sign his grandmother always made. Both accounts are predated by the Chicago based psychedelic-Goth band Coven, led by singer Jinx Dawson who made the gesture on their 1969 album cover for "Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls". Incidentally, the band also wrote a song called "Black Sabbath," and one of the band members was named Oz Osborne, not to be confused with Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath fame. This is a much truer origin of the hand sign and of the seeds of Heavy Metal.
Pre-dating either Ronnie James Dio, or Gene Simmons' use of the "devil's hand", on the cover of the Beatles' 'Yellow Submarine' album (Dec 1968, UK, Jan 1969, USA), John Lennon's right hand is making the sign above Paul McCartney's head. For many fans, this was one of the many "Paul is dead" clues.
From an interview with Ronnie James Dio on Metal-Rules.com:
Metal-Rules.com - "I want to ask you about something people have asked you about before but will no doubt continue to talk about, and that is the sign created by raising your index and little finger. Some call it the "devils hand" or the "evil eye." I would like to know if you were the first one to introduce this to the metal world and what this symbol represents to you?"
R.J. Dio - "I doubt very much if I would be the first one who ever did that. That's like saying I invented the wheel, I'm sure someone did that at some other point. I think you'd have to say that I made it fashionable. I used it so much and all the time and it had become my trademark until the Britney Spears audience decided to do it as well. So it kind of lost it's meaning with that. But it was…I was in Sabbath at the time. It was symbol that I thought was reflective of what that band was supposed to be all about. It's NOT the devil's sign like we're here with the devil. It's an Italian thing I got from my Grandmother called the "Malocchio". It's to ward off the Evil Eye or to give the Evil Eye, depending on which way you do it. It's just a symbol but it had magical incantations and attitudes to it and I felt it worked very well with Sabbath. So I became very noted for it and then everybody else started to pick up on it and away it went. But I would never say I take credit for being the first to do it. I say because I did it so much that it became the symbol of rock and roll of some kind." [1]
Whatever its origin in the heavy metal scene, metal fans embraced the gesture as a vague symbol of mysticism, Satan, evil, or simply "metal-ness", and it soon became nearly as commonplace at concerts as headbanging. The gesture has since spread beyond metal to all forms of rock music and it is now nearly ubiquitous. In rock situations the gesture is interpreted as a benign gesture for "Rock on." Occasionally it is confused by fans with the "I Love You" sign, in which the thumb is extended. Gene Simmons shows his sign mainly in this way. In Europe, the sign (without the thumb extended) has both meanings, one as a widely accepted "sign of metalheads" and the other meaning, which is simply to communicate to the band (mostly heavy metal-bands) that you love them and their music.
- Parliament-Funkadelic and their fans have used the gesture regularly for decades, actually preceding the use of the gesture in heavy metal.[2]
Rock fans often use the hand gesture in electronic conversations also, for group identification. It's usual to express it with the letters "l", "m" and "l" put together. The formed lml symbol supposedly remind the conformation of the fingers in the actual gesture. An alternative method of expressing the symbol in written and typed text is to use the forward and back slashes, to create the symbol \m/, \,,/, !...!, or even /m/, with a comma used to represent the thumb. Some even make ASCII faces to go with the sign, such as \m|(`o´)|m/.
A more recent term used for the gesture is "VISEL". This term is used at progressive metal and aggressive rock shows.
Other uses
- It is known as Hook 'em Horns when used by supporters of The University of Texas or its sports teams. In that context, it is used to approximate the shape of the horns of a Texas longhorn steer. Neither of those uses are considered vulgar or to carry associations with 'Satanism'.
- Fans of the University of South Florida use this gesture to represent its mascot, the bull.
- It is also used as the lobo sign of the New Mexico Lobos
- This gesture is the hand sign for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., most often displayed with the palm facing inward.
- In baseball, the gesture indicates "two outs."
- Conspiracy theorists claim a similar sign is used for Freemasonry, the Illuminati, or Satan worship, by extending the thumb outward. This sometimes confused with the Hook 'em Horns sign. [3]
- This is also the primary sign for the Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13 street gang found throughout Central America and the U.S. Many of the first generation of MS-13 members had been heavy-metal enthusiasts and fans of Black Sabbath.
- In 1996 WCW (World Championship Wrestling) begin using the symbol for their nWo heel stable with Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. However taken the middle and ring finger and connecting them to the thumb to give the symbol the look of a "wolf" for their nWo "Wolfpac" symbol.
Use outside North America
- In the United Kingdom, the gesture is also known as the "hex".
- In the Netherlands, the gesture is known as the "Bokkegroet" (buck greeting).
- In Israel, the gesture is known as "Shabi" for its similarity to a snail from a children's TV show.
- In Turkey the sign is popular as a nationalist symbol for the Turkish people. It signifies wolf's ears, because of many legends that state wolves were guardians of ancient Turkish tribes near Western China. The thumb and middle fingers are pressed together to symbolise the wolf's face.
- In Wicca the sign is a symbol for the male or horned god.
- The sign is also seen displayed by John Lennon of the Beatles on the cover of the soundtrack for the Yellow Submarine film.
Variations of the gesture
- Existing most often within the metal circle is a variation in which both hands are used. All digits, with the exception of the little fingers, are closed and the hands are then brought together; thumb on thumb. This form has been referred to as "too much metal for one hand." This technique is often employed by Kirk Hammett of Metallica as well as many other heavy metal musicians.
- Another form almost exclusively used by the metal circle (such as the Brazilian band Angra) is similar to the version depicted above, except that all digits except the index finger are closed and the hands are brought together with thumbs pointing in opposite directions. It requires somewhat more coordinated arm placement, so not everybody in a heavy metal show can do it properly; others usually resort to the most common single-handed incarnation of the horns.
- Comedian Dane Cook has formulated two variations, One, "Rock n' Roll quotes," involves forming the devil horns and moving the index and little fingers in the manner of air quotes. The other, the "superfinger," is inverted devil horns, with the thumb, middle finger, and ring finger extended and other fingers retracted, displayed with the back of the hand to the audience as if giving them the finger.
- In text-based electronic communication, for example on the internet, the gesture is made using various character combinations, such as \m/ or lml.
- Angus Young holds both his hands to the sides of his head with index fingers extended to create "Devil Horns".
- Aleister Crowley made the 'horns of Pan' sign by placing both hands on either side of his head, palms in, thumbs out.
- Some "Satanists" have been seen using a sign in which both hands make a "hang-loose" sign with the index finger, little finger and thumb extended on both hands. One hand's middle and ring fingers are then wrapped around the side of the other hand next to that hand's little finger. Both hands are pointed downward with the backs of both hands facing the person being signed to. This creates a "Pentagram" inverted star image, and is best done is one has hitchhiker's thumbs.
- Musician Butch Walker has been known to extend the index fingers of both hands while interlocking his pinky fingers and displaying the back-of-hand side of this two-handed gesture to the audience, as a two handed version of the gesture, which he calls "Too Much Rock for One Hand" or 2MR41H.
See also
References
External links
- Dio on the misuse of the horns
- President George W. Bush gestures the 'Hook 'em, horns," the salute of the University of Texas Longhorns.(...)
- Ronnie James Dio Re-Claims the Devil Horns
- Rock and Roll Confidential on their logo
- Odyssey of the Devil Horns: Who is responsible for bringing metal’s famous hand signal to the tribe? Los Angeles CityBeat, Sept. 9, 2004
- "Metal Council Convenes To Discuss 'Metal Hand Sign' Abuse" (satire) from The Onion, 9 November 2005: "If your head is neither banging nor thrashing, you should not be throwing the sign."
