Why do we cross our fingers to wish for luck?

About this episode

Whether it’s making a wish over a birthday cake, waiting for lottery results, or opening an email following a job interview, it's pretty common to cross your fingers. It’s a way of communicating that we’re hoping luck swings in our favor and our wishes come true. Often, you don’t even need to physically cross your fingers; simply saying "Fingers crossed” is enough to get the message across. But the roots of this tradition go way back. In the Middle Ages, folks crossed their fingers to ward off the Devil, mimicking the famous exorcism phrase "Vade Retro Satana" or "Back off, Satan!" uttered by a priest holding a cross. Yet, people were crossing their fingers for luck long before the Middle Ages. Are you saying that it originally had nothing to do with religion at all then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠⁠What causes tocophobia, the fear of pregnancy and childbirth?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Is it a good idea to sleep with my pet?⁠⁠ How did flat Earth conspiracy theory start? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 10/12/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices