Moutza
Encyclopedia
A "moutza" or mountza, (μούντζα) or "faskeloma", "φασκέλωμα" is the most traditional gesture of insult among Greeks
which consists of extending all fingers of one or both hands and presenting the palm or palms towards the to-be-insulted person in a forward motion. It is often coupled with the expletives "να" (na), "παρ'τα" (par'ta) or "όρσε" (órse), meaning "here", "take these" and "there you go", respectively. The closer the gesture is to the other person's face, the more threatening it's considered.
An even more offensive version is achieved by using both hands to double the gesture, smacking the palm of one hand against the back of the other, in the direction of the intended recipient.
If a Greek wants to hand-signal
the number 5 to someone, they take care not to overextend the fingers, or to face their palm towards themselves and the back of the hand towards the intended recipient of the signal, lest it be misunderstood for a "moutza".
, it complemented verbal curses against evil forces. It was then called faskeloma "φασκέλωμα" (the words faskeloma and faskelo, meaning moutza, are still used to this day). In later years, the name changed to "moutza" when in the penal code of Byzantium
, whereby a chained criminal was paraded around town sitting, facing backwards, on a donkey and with their face smeared with cinder
to enhance their ridicule. Cinder in medieval Greek
was called moutzos (μούντζος). Because cinder was wiped on the person's face first by collecting it in the palm and then by extending open the fingers, the gesture itself became insulting, to be known as moutza, after the name of the material applied. The modern Greek word "moutzoura" or "mountzoura" (a smudge, scribble or dark stain) has the same origin.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
which consists of extending all fingers of one or both hands and presenting the palm or palms towards the to-be-insulted person in a forward motion. It is often coupled with the expletives "να" (na), "παρ'τα" (par'ta) or "όρσε" (órse), meaning "here", "take these" and "there you go", respectively. The closer the gesture is to the other person's face, the more threatening it's considered.
An even more offensive version is achieved by using both hands to double the gesture, smacking the palm of one hand against the back of the other, in the direction of the intended recipient.
If a Greek wants to hand-signal
Finger counting
Finger counting, or dactylonomy, is the art of counting along one's fingers. Though marginalized in modern societies by Arabic numerals, formerly different systems flourished in many cultures, including educated methods far more sophisticated than the one-by-one finger count taught today in...
the number 5 to someone, they take care not to overextend the fingers, or to face their palm towards themselves and the back of the hand towards the intended recipient of the signal, lest it be misunderstood for a "moutza".
Closed moutza
A closed (or polite) moutza consists of keeping the tips of all five fingers together and pointing towards the targeted person. This gesture is usually accompanied by the preposition 'na!' (there!). Sometimes this gesture is completed with only three fingers being half opened (thumb, index and middle). Or the targeted person can be called upon to blow on the fingers in order to make them open into a full moutza. In this case it is accompanied by the imperative 'fisa!' (blow!).Origin
The origin of the gesture can be traced back to the ancient years, when it was used as a curse. It is said that even during the Eleusinian MysteriesEleusinian Mysteries
The Eleusinian Mysteries were initiation ceremonies held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone based at Eleusis in ancient Greece. Of all the mysteries celebrated in ancient times, these were held to be the ones of greatest importance...
, it complemented verbal curses against evil forces. It was then called faskeloma "φασκέλωμα" (the words faskeloma and faskelo, meaning moutza, are still used to this day). In later years, the name changed to "moutza" when in the penal code of Byzantium
Byzantium
Byzantium was an ancient Greek city, founded by Greek colonists from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king Byzas . The name Byzantium is a Latinization of the original name Byzantion...
, whereby a chained criminal was paraded around town sitting, facing backwards, on a donkey and with their face smeared with cinder
Cinder
A cinder is a pyroclastic material. Cinders are extrusive igneous rocks. Cinders are similar to pumice, which has so many cavities and is such low-density that it can float on water...
to enhance their ridicule. Cinder in medieval Greek
Medieval Greek
Medieval Greek, also known as Byzantine Greek, is the stage of the Greek language between the beginning of the Middle Ages around 600 and the Ottoman conquest of the city of Constantinople in 1453. The latter date marked the end of the Middle Ages in Southeast Europe...
was called moutzos (μούντζος). Because cinder was wiped on the person's face first by collecting it in the palm and then by extending open the fingers, the gesture itself became insulting, to be known as moutza, after the name of the material applied. The modern Greek word "moutzoura" or "mountzoura" (a smudge, scribble or dark stain) has the same origin.
Around the world
The gesture of moutza does not have the same significance in other cultures around the world. In a few countries there are similar gestures. Their significances are:- In PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, showing the palm of the hand to someone is also considered an insult, together with saying "" Lanat which means "Curse". - In the Persian GulfPersian GulfThe Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
, showing the palms of both hands to someone after clapping them is also considered an insult, together with saying "Malat Alaik". It's usually done by women as it is considered not manly if men do it. - Since the 1990s in North AmericaNorth AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, a similar gesture is used in "Talk to the hand". By showing the palm of the hand, with fingers spread, and saying "Talk to the hand... because the face ain't listenin' is the equivalent of "You're wasting your breath" or "Shut Up". Even before then, a common expression of displeasure was to "throw" one's hand. - In MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, it can be used to say hi (together with waving); but when steady or moving it repeatedly towards the receiver means "You'll see!" (Spanish: Vas a ver/Ya verás/Ya lo verás), warning that the giver will tell an authority figure (parent, teacher, principal, etc...) about any prank or other mischievous action the receiver has done. It is commonly used with children to scare them into behaving. - In PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, in addition to meaning the same as in MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, it is also used to threaten the receiver (implying that they will be punished or be the target of violence or any other form of retribution) at a later and more appropriate/convenient time (often when there is less risk of getting caught in the case of physical retribution or attack). This is because aside from implying/saying the words 'Vas a ver!' to the receiver, the word "Espérate" (colloq. 'Pérate') meaning wait, is also used often since the gesture also has the general meaning of wait/hold on as in many other parts of the world.
External links
- Footballer Dario FernandezDario FernandezDarío Ezequiel Fernández, . He currently played as a midfielder for Alki Larnaca in the Cypriot First Division.-References:** *...
directs a moutza towards the referee - Moutza in Greek Cinema