What looks like a simple closed fist with a tucked thumb is actually a gesture called “making a fig,” rich with symbolism and cultural history.
Its origins trace to ancient rituals in Rome to repel evil spirits and invoke luck, reflecting humanity’s age-old fear of the unseen. The fig sign was a sacred emblem connected to fertility and protection.
In various societies, the fig sign was used both as a protective charm and a sharp insult. In Slavic and Turkish cultures, it’s comparable to a rude hand gesture meant to insult or reject.
Children used it as a secret sign in games to accuse others without confrontation. One humorous tradition includes “taking the nose” rarely meant to offend.
While diminishing in daily use, the fig remains a symbol of playful defiance and spiritual safeguard, an enduring piece of cultural folklore embedded in hand gestures worldwide.
