Thumbs up Allah. What does a raised index finger mean? Decoding the meaning of a gesture in different situations

In everyday life, people constantly accompany their speech with hand movements and facial expressions. Most often this happens unconsciously, but sometimes gestures are used intentionally to enhance the emotional and expressive coloring of words, to demonstrate one’s mood, attitude towards the situation or interlocutor. Having studied some finger gestures and their meaning, you can succinctly formulate any message and quickly convey it to others, as the deaf and dumb do. Let's look at the most common signs and explain their meaning.

Thumbs up and down

With a gesture thumbs up Everyone has known each other almost since childhood. Usually it symbolizes approval or agreement, accompanied by an appropriate nod, so it is always perceived positively in our country. Often used by voting travelers on the road when it is necessary to stop transport. However, you need to be careful when using your fingers to communicate with foreigners, because in the sign language of the inhabitants of Australia, Greece and Great Britain such a sign is regarded as an obscene expression, and among Arabs it is generally associated with the male genital organ.

When thumb down, the gesture takes on the opposite meaning - that is, an expression of dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction. Today it is reflected on social networks and the YouTube channel. The pictogram depicting it is called a “dislike”.

Forefinger

The next gesture is not so unambiguous and is deciphered depending on the situation, taking into account additional signals. This is the index finger up. There are several options for its interpretation:

applied to the center of the lips - asked to remain silent;
raised vertically at head level or higher - require attention or stop immediately;
move it from side to side - express their disagreement or prohibition;
shake up and down - teach or threaten with punishment;
twisted at the temple - they show that the person is out of his mind.

By his position during a conversation, they determine whether a person is telling the truth or lying. If, for example, the eyes are looking in one direction, and the index finger is pointing in the other and slightly bent, then the interlocutor is most likely insincere.

Middle finger up

Since the times of ancient Rome, in almost all civilized countries the meaning of the middle finger gesture has been indecent and offensive. Extended upward, it symbolizes today the male genital organ. This is a rough form of the phrase "Get out!" or “Fuck off!” among young people. In our country, it is borrowed from cool American action films and vulgar 18+ youth comedies.

Crossing your fingers

The hand is very often used by superstitious people as a magical tool that can scare away evil spirits and attract good luck. In their understanding, crossed fingers (index and middle) have protective power. This gesture signifies the unity of faith and strength and is associated with the cross. One of the fingers symbolizes hope for a better outcome, and the other - help and support. Sometimes they are intertwined on both hands and hidden behind the back in order to lie, but at the same time avoid punishment from higher powers.

Research by British scientists from University College proves that such actions are not unfounded. They even found scientific confirmation. In their opinion, the gesture really helps reduce pain. But don’t even think about showing it to a Vietnamese unless you want to seriously offend him.

Two fingers up V – victory

In Russia and many other European countries, the gesture of two fingers with an open palm means absolute victory or confidence in the proximity of its achievement. This is due to the fact that the index and middle fingers, pointing high, look like the letter V. That, in turn, is an abbreviation for the Latin word Victoria - victory. For the first time in the world, the sign was used by Winston Churchill. However, it is also not universal for everyone. The British, Australians and New Zealanders will consider the gesture an insult if the back of the hand is turned towards them. In Russia, this option is interpreted as the number 2.

Three fingers up

It is known that during the Second World War, German soldiers greeted the commander-in-chief during the oath by showing three fingers at the same time - thumb, index and middle. In the Russian mind, this sign means the number or quantity 3.

Goat

Few people know that the gesture in which all fingers are clenched into a fist, except for the index and little fingers, is attributed protective properties, so it is often used by magicians when performing mystical rituals. However, thanks to rock stars, he is more familiar to people as the “rocker goat.” In combination with a protruding tongue, it expresses insolence or a state of madness.

In Russia, “goat” can be deciphered to demonstrate one’s power and superiority over others. It also serves as a comic imitation of butting cattle.

Shaka and tongue between fingers

Many people associate a hand clenched into a fist with a protruding thumb and little finger near the ear with a telephone conversation, a request or a promise to call back. But if the action is accompanied by a characteristic tilt of the head or touching the little finger to the lips, then it takes on a different meaning associated with a call to drink alcoholic beverages and use narcotic cigarettes.

In Hawaii, "Shaka" is seen as a sign of greeting. It is popular among athletes in surfing, skydiving and Brazilian jiu-jitsu wrestling. It is also used to express jubilation by some famous football players who have scored a goal.

OK

The generally accepted meaning of the gesture is to notify others that there is no problem and everything is fine. The residents' favorite sign. However, in Turkey it is offensive to those to whom it is addressed, as it implies an accusation of non-traditional sexual orientation.

Fig or fig

Russians have a curled fist with the thumb sticking out between the other two - this is a contemptuous form of refusal. In ancient Rus', the fig symbolized coitus and could be used to scare away evil spirits. There are several other names - shish, fig, dulya. But if for a resident of Russia it means an insult, mockery, then for a Brazilian it means protection from the evil eye or a talisman to attract good luck. That is why you can find pendants, pendants and figurines depicting figs there.

Spire folded with fingertips

As psychologists note, balanced individuals who are confident in their strengths and their own competence connect their fingertips with a “house”. A spiel can mean thinking at the moment of making an important decision or demonstrate increased interest in the words of the interlocutor.

In the practice of yoga, the fingertips closed in rings help to meditate, find peace, and focus on the main thing.

Rubbing the tips of others with your thumb

Such manipulation can be seen in crime films. It means banknotes that are virtually crunchy in your hands. Another such gesture is used at a time when you need to clarify your thought, or urgently remember something, but it just doesn’t work out.

Interlocked fingers

Clenched hands serve as a kind of psychological barrier. Can inform about various human conditions:

on the head - anxiety, confusion, shock;
on the knees - hidden tension, stiffness;
in front of you, while your head is directed upward - an expression of distrust of the information provided, disagreement with the opinion expressed.

It is very difficult to come to an agreement with a business partner whose fingers are tightly clasped. To help him relax, you need to invite him to watch something and then try to discuss the issue again.

In most countries, an outstretched palm means “stop.” In a conversation, a gesture formulates a request to stop, to stop doing something.

It is also a sign of greeting people and saying goodbye to them. Depends on what the situation is. However, the Greeks use such a friendly five to express negative emotions. Namely, the desire to move on the face. They call this manipulation munza, and it has a funny origin story. Thus, at the dawn of the Byzantine Empire, the judge had a way of humiliating punishment of petty criminals - smearing ashes on the face of the offender.

Inviting gesture with index finger

With a bent finger extended forward, people most often call to themselves someone with whom they want to sort things out. It is perceived by a person as a joke, but sometimes it can offend. It is a sign of a lack of culture among those who use it.

Fist

Clenching a fist shows strong tension, readiness to repel an enemy's attack, and also means an open threat, an intention to hit in the face. Symbolizes power.

Russian and English alphabet with gestures

The language of the deaf and mute is the main way they interact with the outside world. It allows people with hearing and speech impairments to communicate. Each gesture corresponds to a letter of the alphabet or a word. This can be presented more clearly in the form of a table.

As you can see, the same gestures can be interpreted in different ways. This is why they should be interpreted as a system and not individually. And only use it when appropriate.

What is this thumbs up symbol?

It is clear that the meaning of the symbol depends on which country and which finger is used. And here there are a great many options: from greetings and approval to indecent analogies.

For Muslims, the index finger of the right hand raised up is a symbol of the proclamation of monotheism, that is, translated into Russian it means: “There is no God but Allah!”
In Germany, this gesture says: “Everything is fine.”
In Slavic countries, a raised index finger means a call for attention from others, and in American schools, students thus ask the teacher for permission to answer a question.
If during a conversation you raise your index finger up and shake it from side to side, then the interlocutor of almost any nationality will understand this as a refusal of what was proposed or an unwillingness to discuss the topic.

What are we talking about when we raise our thumbs up?

The symbol - the index and thumb connected with the rest raised up, means in America and most European countries: “Everything is fine!” But in Brazil and Turkey such a gesture will be perceived as an insult.

A resident of Holland, inviting you to a friendly drinking session, will raise his little finger up and his thumb to the side. This is where you probably want to respond to him with the gesture described above. Still: “Everything is great”! And a Frenchman can raise his little finger in response, which will mean: “Leave me alone!”

If someone raises their thumb up, the symbol hardly needs any special decoding - it is a sign of wishes for good luck, recognition that everything is going as it should, agreement with the proposed program of action, etc.

True, in Turkey and Arab countries such a gesture is a phallic symbol, and in Greece it is a demand: “Shut up!”

Most common symbol

Thumbs up in other cases too. The truth is not one, but two: we are talking about the V-shaped sign with the index and middle fingers, known in European countries.

It was introduced during the Second World War by Winston Churchill to signify victory, and since then the gesture has become very popular. True, for the English, one nuance is important in it: which side is the palm facing the speaker at that moment. If it is from the back, then it is: “victory”, but if it is with the palm, then its interpretation becomes offensive.

Another gesture is no less popular: “goat”. We are talking about the index finger and little finger raised up. In the CIS this is a notorious “rocker” symbol. A thumbs up is raised in a similar way as a sign of superiority over someone, a desire to humiliate him. Although in mystical rituals this sign is protection from dark forces.

Why do Muslims always show their index finger up? What does this gesture mean?

Alla ㋛ ♠♣♦

The raised finger of the right hand is a symbol of the proclamation of monotheism among Muslims) by the way, for those who profess Islam, the left hand is considered “unclean”. Therefore, if you offer a gift or money with your left hand, you may offend a Muslim.)

Evgeny Ardynsky, is your god Jesus? You don’t even know who your God is, how can you call everything else evil!?
The central figure for Christian worship is the Son of God - Jesus
Christ (hence the name “Christians”).
It is through him that Christians come
to God the Father. God the Father is the one image of God for Christians, Jews and Muslims.

They heard a ringing, but they don’t know where it came from! Among Wahhabis, a common sign is the index finger extended upward. According to the naive ideas of the “Salafis”, this sign should demonstrate their commitment to monotheism - after all, God is one, like a finger. Wahhabis love to pose in photos with such a “finger,” thereby wanting to show their “monotheism.” However, there are no hadiths that speak of such a finger as a symbol of Islam or monotheism.
Where did this gesture come from?
The fact is that the index finger extended upward is one of the main symbols of Freemasonry, which, in turn, borrowed it from ancient pagan religions, where this finger symbolized a person’s connection with “higher powers” (that is, Satan).
Also, in black magic rituals, Satan himself is usually depicted with his finger raised up, as can be seen in the photo below.
Thus, since Wahhabism was an invention of the English Freemasonry, someone introduced this sign into it so that the “Salafis” would bear the satanic mark on themselves.

What does it mean ☝☝☝ this index finger up?

A raised index finger in Germany means “wonderful,” but a French waitress will mistake this gesture for ordering one glass of wine.
There are differences in the gestures of different peoples.
A raised index finger in Germany means “wonderful,” but a French waitress will mistake this gesture for ordering one glass of wine.
Two fingers raised up means:
in Germany - victory
in France - peace
in the UK – 2
in Greece - go to hell, damn it.
Five fingers raised up have the meaning:
in Western countries – 5
everywhere - stop!
in Turkey - go away
in other countries - believe me, I'm telling the truth!
Raised little finger and index finger:
in the Mediterranean - your wife is cheating on you
in Malta and Italy - a sign that protects against danger and the evil eye
Raised index finger and thumb:
in Europe – 2
in the UK – 1
in the USA - please serve me, bring the bill
in Japan it is an insult.
Raised little finger:
in France - leave me alone!
in Japan - woman
in Mediterranean countries - sexual innuendo
Thumbs up:
in Europe – 1
in Greece - swear word
in Japan – man, 5
in other countries - beautifully done, good, a sign to stop traffic on the road.
The index finger and thumb are connected; the other fingers are raised up:
in Europe and North America - good, great
in the Mediterranean, Russia, Brazil, Turkey - swearing, sexual insult,
in Tunisia, France – 0
The little finger raised up and the finger pointed to the side:
in Holland - how about having a drink?
in Hawaii - no panic! Calm down!

Index finger up on the right hand. What does this mean?

★ஐ✽ นңңα ✽ஐ★

Gestures made from combinations of fingers in different cultures have very different meanings. So, for example, the “thumbs up” symbol can speak both of a decision to pardon the vanquished (a famous gesture during the fight of Roman gladiators), and of a common request for a ride, to take a fellow traveler (hitchhiking), if we are talking about a thumb raised up by the road somewhere in America. The index finger carries other information. Let's take a closer look.
What is this thumbs up symbol?

It is clear that the meaning of the symbol depends on which country and which finger is used. And here there are a great many options: from greetings and approval to indecent analogies.
1. For Muslims, the index finger of the right hand raised up is a symbol of the proclamation of monotheism, that is, translated into Russian it means: “There is no God but Allah!”
2. In Germany, this gesture says: “Everything is fine.”
3. In Slavic countries, the index finger raised up means a call for the attention of others, and in American schools, students thus ask the teacher for permission to answer a question.
4. If during a conversation you raise your index finger up and shake it from side to side, then the interlocutor of almost any nationality will understand this as a refusal of what was proposed or an unwillingness to discuss the topic.
What does the thumbs up symbol mean?

Yokamon! Good afternoon dear readers, today I decided to touch on a very interesting topic on my blog. Let's talk about what the gesture “Thumb and little finger protruding in different directions” means. Do you believe in the existence of sign language? How often do movements of the hands and the formation of certain figures replace familiar vocabulary? Do you know what the thumbs up and pinky sign means and when it is appropriate to use it?

Are you aware that this gesture should not be done in the Caribbean? Read on, the most interesting things will come next.

One gesture on many continents

This strange gesture, called "Shaka", is often used by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes and grappling wrestlers.

The gesture, when the thumb and little finger are protruded and the rest are pressed against the palm, can be seen not only among wrestlers, but also among people from the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Today it is often used by ordinary people, and on different continents it can be deciphered and understood differently. For example,

if we take the American sign system as a basis, this means the letter U,
in China - number 6,
and in our country this gesture symbolizes a telephone call, if a person puts his thumb to his ear,
or an offer to take drugs if you put it to your lips,
if your hands are located at stomach level, the interlocutor is offering you alcohol.

According to many sources, this sign is most often used when greeting, along with it, they mainly pronounce the words “Shaka, brah!” The islanders seem to be asking people to relax, take their time, and remember that life is wonderful and everything will always be fine. In Hawaii, everyone uses this gesture: athletes and even politicians. Apart from greeting, "Shaka" is also used to express your gratitude and if you want to say goodbye.

By the way, the “Shaka” gesture is used in the film “Secret Soldiers of Benghazi”. The film was shot this year. If you can uncritically experience the heroism of the American soldier and can watch Hollywood portray the East in film, I see no reason why you wouldn't like Michael Bay's new film.

Putting aside the electronic world, the director, with identical pomp, shot the project much better, and we must admit that he did it very well. If you don’t have anything to do in the evening, watch this movie and write in the comments what this gesture meant in the last minutes.

Where did the gesture come from?

After viewing the picture, I became curious, how did this sign come into use? Who started showing it first? Why don't they use the index finger instead of the little finger? According to the first two versions that I was able to find, "Shaka" is associated with an ordinary guy Kalil Haman, who worked in the last century in Hawaii.

One day he had an accident, as a result he lost all the fingers on his hand except the thumb and little finger. Many people believe that the guy always said hello with his right hand, and people only saw two fingers. This gesture was liked by the local guys, who began to greet in the same way. A few years later, the gesture spread throughout the island; by the way, almost all local residents are confident that this version is the most truthful.

Second version

The gesture became popular after Haman got a job guarding trains that carried sugar. An accident happened to him at his previous job. He had to inspect the trains and drop off the children who were constantly trying to ride them. After the inspection, the guy raised his hand, thereby showing the driver that he could move on and everything was fine.

Another version of "Shaka" is associated with

According to legend, a shark attacked a surfer, but he managed to escape, losing three of his fingers. The guy never gave up surfing and greeted his friends with his right hand, using this very gesture.

There are sources where it is written that “Shaka” was used by labor immigrants as an invitation to drink a glass of beer or something stronger after a hard day of work.

It’s interesting how meaningful a simple sign can be; many people probably don’t even think about what they are showing when they simply randomly cross two fingers. After reading the forums, I realized that our people perceive “Shaka” differently.

What does protruding thumb and little finger mean?

I'm a rocker
Goat, gore, gore.
Sexual act. By the way, this is why I wrote earlier that it is better not to show it on the Caribbean Islands unless you are specifically talking about intimacy. If you point your little finger at a girl with your thumb sticking out, she may take it as an insult and file a police complaint against you for harassment.
Hard bass dance.
Nike brand.
Relax, take it easy.
Among the mercenaries it means "Jumbo" - in other words, this is their Code.

Do you know what this or other gestures mean? Well, for example, a two-finger gesture in the form of the letter B? Or, for example, what does the tongue gesture between two fingers mean? Share your guesses in the comments.

Two finger gesture in the form of the letter B

From historical articles it became known that during the Hundred Years Wars, the French had a couple of fingers cut off, which they used to draw a bow. And those who had all their fingers in place mocked their enemies and showed “V”.

Even today this gesture is prohibited in France. And also almost all of Europe and England do not recognize it. For example, approximately 7 years ago, Barry Ferguson and Alan McGregor were expelled from their football teams for displaying "V".

The second meaning of this sign is “Victory”. It was used by Winston Churchill himself during World War II. He made the "V" sign popular and in his understanding it meant victory, but in this case the palm had to be turned back to the public. Many countries perceive this sign as a simple demonstration of the number "2".

Gesture "Goat"

In Russia, this gesture is called “horns”, “raspaltsovka” or “korn” and everyone interprets it in their own way. In Central Europe in medieval times it was used to protect against the evil eye (as if you had a bullet in your pocket). This sign can be found mentioned in many books, it is even depicted in paintings. The frontman of Black Sabbath has made this gesture the most important in his life: now at a concert of various musical genres, he shows “Horns” as if approving the group. But there is no need to show this gesture to an Italian man or woman. In this country it means someone who has been cuckolded. So try not to show Heavy Metal in this country.

Do I use gestures when communicating with friends? Probably more often no than yes. We are all different, and everyone has their own perception of the world, I may offend someone, on the contrary, I will flirt with someone, although I did not even intend to do this. It's better to use words instead of gestures. But I’m sure that at a Korn concert the “Shaka” or “Goat” gesture will be more than appropriate.

Share your thoughts in the comments. It will be very interesting to read. And don't forget to subscribe to. All the best and see you soon!

Text— Agent Q.

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What is this thumbs up symbol?

It is clear that the meaning of the symbol depends on which country and which finger is used. And here there are a great many options: from greetings and approval to indecent analogies.

For Muslims, the index finger of the right hand raised up is a symbol of the proclamation of monotheism, that is, translated into Russian it means: “There is no God but Allah!”
In Germany, this gesture says: “Everything is fine.”
In Slavic countries, a raised index finger means a call for attention from others, and in American schools, students thus ask the teacher for permission to answer a question.
If during a conversation you raise your index finger up and shake it from side to side, then the interlocutor of almost any nationality will understand this as a refusal of what was proposed or an unwillingness to discuss the topic.

What are we talking about when we raise our thumbs up?

The symbol - the index finger connected and the rest raised up, means in America and most European countries: “Everything is fine!” But in Brazil and Turkey such a gesture will be perceived as an insult.

True, in Turkey and Arab countries such a gesture is a demand: “Shut up!”

Most common symbol

Thumbs up in other cases too. The truth is not one, but two: we are talking about the V-shaped sign with the index and middle fingers, known in European countries.

It was introduced during the Second World War to signify victory, and since then the gesture has become very popular. True, for the English, one nuance is important in it: which side is the palm facing the speaker at that moment. If it is from the back, then it is: “victory”, but if it is with the palm, then its interpretation becomes offensive.

1. Middle finger

Thanks to Hollywood, the exposed middle finger has become famous all over the world. However, in no country does this gesture mean something positive or peaceful. The classical meaning of this phallic gesture is very harsh, and it means an abrupt end to a conversation and a wish for travel in a certain direction.

According to anthropologist Desmond Morris, showing the middle finger, symbolizing an offensive display of the genital organ, is one of the oldest gestures known to us. In Ancient Greece, pointing the middle finger at someone was considered a grave insult, as it meant accusing them of passive homosexuality.

In Aristophanes’ comedy “The Clouds,” Socrates, having undertaken to teach the sciences to the ordinary peasant Strepsiades, asks if he knows the poetic size of the dactyl (literally “finger”), to which Strepsiades readily shows his middle finger. The philosopher Diogenes said that “most people are only one finger away from madness: if a person extends his middle finger, he will be considered crazy, but if he extends his index finger, he will not be considered crazy.” It was said about him that “when visitors wanted to look at Demosthenes, he pointed his middle finger at him with the words: “Here is the ruler of the Athenian people.”

In Ancient Greece, pointing the middle finger was an accusation of homosexuality.

In Rome, the gesture, and with it the middle finger itself, was called the “shameless finger.” The gesture is mentioned by a number of Roman authors, for example, in one of Martial’s epigrams, an old man, proud of his health, shows his middle finger to the doctors.

2. Thumb up or down

A gesture using the thumb often demonstrates a person's attitude towards what he happened to see. Thumbs up - “I like it!”; finger down - “I don’t like it.”

This sign is often associated with the tradition of ancient Roman gladiator fights. French historian and archaeologist Jerome Carcopino in the book “Daily Life of Ancient Rome. Apogee of the Empire" noticed that when the crowd seemed to be defending himself with all his might, the spectators waved their handkerchiefs, raised a finger in the air and shouted: "Let him go!" If the emperor agreed with their wishes and raised his thumb up, the defeated person was forgiven and released from the arena alive. If the spectators, on the contrary, believed that the defeated deserved defeat by his cowardice and unwillingness to continue the fight, they put their finger down and shouted: “Cut!” Then the emperor, with his thumb down, ordered the slaughter of the defeated gladiator, and he had no choice but to expose his throat for a “strike of mercy.”

In Iran, a thumbs up is a threat of violence.

The thumbs up is interpreted differently in many countries. If in Germany it is peacefully neutral and means the number 1, then in Greece this gesture will be similar to the phrase “Fuck you!” In Uruguay and Iran, a proudly raised thumb symbolizes the male genital organ, and the gesture itself means a threat of sexual violence.

The sign in the form of a ring formed by the index finger and thumb was given to people by divers, who thus inform their partner that everything is fine with them. There is also a version that this is an invention of journalists who sought to shorten the most popular phrases.

However, in France, Portugal and some Latin American countries, the “OK” gesture, beloved by Americans and many Europeans, is perceived as indecent and symbolizes the anus. This can be felt especially acutely in Turkey, where a finger ring is an open accusation of homosexuality. But in Tunisia, this gesture can be interpreted as a threat to kill a person. In the USA and Russia, the OK gesture is perceived as normal, but this cannot be said about Brazil, where it is considered very obscene.

In France, the "OK" gesture is a symbol of the anus.

Note also that the OK gesture has a history of more than 2500 years. Among the ancient Greeks, it was a symbol of love, personifying kissing lips. It was also used to praise a speaker for his speech.

4. V (Victoria)

This is one of the most common gestures in culture, meaning victory or peace. Shown with the index and middle fingers pointing upward in the shape of the Latin letter “V”.

The history of the origin of the Victoria gesture goes back to the Middle Ages. According to this version, during the Hundred Years' War, captured English and Welsh archers who terrified the French had these two fingers on their right hand cut off so that they could no longer use their bows. The archers, knowing this, teased the French before the battle by showing them their intact fingers - “Be afraid, enemies!”

During the Second World War, this sign was heavily popularized by Winston Churchill to indicate victory, but for this purpose the hand is turned with the back side towards the person showing it. If during this gesture the hand is turned with the palm towards the speaker, then the gesture takes on an offensive meaning - “shut up.”

During World War II, Churchill popularized the "Victoria" gesture.

Another meaning of this gesture is associated with the popular film “V for Vendetta”, in which the sign V stands for main character, an anarchist terrorist wearing a Guy Fawkes mask.

5. Sign of the Cross

In Christianity, this gesture denotes a prayer ritual, which is an image of a cross with the movement of the hand. The sign of the cross is performed in various cases, for example, when entering and leaving a temple, before or after saying a prayer, during worship, as a sign of confession of one’s faith, and in others cases; also when blessing someone or something.

In Orthodoxy, the sign of the cross characterizes the bodily expression of Christian dogmas, the confession of faith in the Holy Trinity and the God-Man Jesus Christ, the expression of love and gratitude to God, and protection from the action of dark forces. Three variants of finger formation are used: two-fingered, three-fingered and nominal finger formation.

Thus, double-fingering was adopted along with the Baptism of Rus' and prevailed until the reforms of Patriarch Nikon in the middle of the 17th century and was officially recognized in Moscow Rus' by the Stoglavy Council of 1550.

It was practiced until the middle of the 13th century in the Greek East. Later it was supplanted by triplicate. When performing double-fingering, two fingers of the right hand - the index and middle - are joined together, symbolizing the two natures of the one Christ, while the middle finger turns out to be slightly bent, which means divine condescension and incarnation. The three remaining fingers are also joined together, symbolizing the Holy Trinity; Moreover, in modern practice, the end of the thumb rests on the pads of the other two, which cover it on top. After which, the tips of two fingers (and only them) touch the forehead, abdomen or lower part of the chest (chest), right and left shoulders in succession. It is also emphasized that one cannot be baptized at the same time as bowing; a bow, if required, should be made after the hand has been lowered.

Using three fingers, to make the sign of the cross, fold the first three fingers of the right hand (thumb, index and middle), and bend the other two fingers to the palm; after which they successively touch the forehead, upper abdomen, right shoulder, then the left. Three fingers folded together symbolize the Holy Trinity; the symbolic meaning of the other two fingers could be different at different times. So, in Rus', under the influence of polemics with the Old Believers, these two fingers were reinterpreted as a symbol of the two natures of Christ: Divine and human. This interpretation is now the most common, although there are others (for example, in the Romanian Church these two fingers are interpreted as a symbol of Adam and Eve falling to the Trinity).

An Orthodox priest, when blessing people or objects, puts his fingers into a special formation called a nomenclature. It is believed that fingers folded in this way depict the letters ICXC to form the name Jesus Christ in ancient Greek spelling.

Catholic prayer books, speaking about the sign of the cross, usually cite only the prayer pronounced at the same time (In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti), without saying anything about the combination of fingers. Even traditionalist Catholics, who are usually quite strict about the ritual and its symbolism, admit the existence of various options here. The most accepted and widespread option in the Catholic world is to make the sign of the cross with five fingers, an open palm, from left to right, in memory of the five wounds on the body of Christ.