Each day we meet people and exchange a host of symbols and expressions whose roots have faded into obscurity. In this roundup we dive into some of the most familiar sayings, customs, and gestures whose beginnings are now a mystery. Got another example? Drop it in the comments so everyone can discover its story.
10 Symbols Whose Origins Remain Forgotten
1 Red Herring
The phrase “red herring” today means a false clue meant to throw investigators off the scent of the real culprit. Its birth, however, is literal: a smoked fish with a strong, pungent smell. In the days of bloodhounds—nature’s most tenacious trackers—a fresh, smelly herring tossed on the ground could easily mask a pursuer’s trail. Drop the fish a day or two out of the water, and the scent becomes so overpowering that even the keenest hound can be fooled, sending the chase spiraling in the wrong direction.
2 Handshake
Grasping another’s hand as a greeting or contract seal dates back to at least the second century BC. The gesture proved that neither party concealed a weapon, broadcasting trust, equality, and sportsmanship. A right‑hand clasp sealed a deal; a left‑hand shake, however, was believed to dissolve it. The record‑breaking hand‑shaker was U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, who shook 8,513 hands on January 1, 1907 at a White House reception. That feat held until July 1977, when New Jersey mayor Joseph Lazaron topped it with 11,000 handshakes in a single day.
3 Victory Sign
The two‑finger V sign has worn many hats. Americans recall President Richard Nixon flashing it, while Winston Churchill wielded it as a beacon of triumph. Churchill famously turned his palm outward to dodge the British‑born obscene version of the gesture, which flips the palm inward. In the 1960s the V morphed into a peace emblem and now serves as a celebrity greeting. Its earliest documented use comes from the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, when British archers, whose two fingers held their bows, raised them to show the French that the feared fingers were still intact after a threat to cut them off.
4 Blessing Sneezers
When someone sneezes, the reflexive “bless you” hails from a time when people believed a sneeze could expel the soul, leaving it vulnerable to wandering evil spirits. A quick blessing was thought to shield the departing spirit. Tradition also warned against opening one’s mouth again to thank the well‑wisher, lest the same spirits slip back in. Another theory paints sneezing as a sign of robust health, turning the blessing into a congratulatory toast. In German‑speaking lands, the response “Gesundheit!” wishes the sneezer continued good health and a long life.
5 Thumbs Up
Contrary to popular belief, the thumbs‑up did not stem from gladiatorial verdicts of life or death. An old English saying—“Here’s my thumb on it!”—described sealing a bargain: two parties would wet their thumbs, raise them, and press them together as a sign of agreement. This tactile ritual likely birthed the modern raised‑thumb approval gesture. Even some ape species flash a raised thumb, perhaps celebrating the very fact they, too, possess opposable thumbs.
6 Military Salute
The classic military salute—four fingers touching the brow—may trace back to Roman legionaries shielding their eyes from the glare of superior officers. Medieval knights sometimes lifted their helmets in a similar motion to signal they bore no hostile intent. The term “sallet,” the name for a knight’s helmet, echoes the word “salute.” The 20th‑century “Roman salute,” now linked to fascist regimes, has no authentic Roman precedent and is prohibited in modern Germany, where misuse can earn up to three years in prison.
7 Crossing Fingers
Originally, crossing one’s fingers required two participants: one person formed the wish with a forefinger, while the other supported it, creating a literal “X” of unity and strength meant to ward off witches. Over time the gesture became a solo luck charm. It also serves a cheeky legal function: crossing the middle over the index finger creates a loophole that lets a speaker back out of a promise.
8 Rock Paper Scissors
Rochambeau—better known as rock‑paper‑scissors—has settled countless disputes worldwide. In an odd Florida case, a weary judge grew tired of endless debates over deposition venues and ordered the parties to resolve the matter with a single RPS showdown. Indonesia puts its own spin on the game with “earwig, human, elephant”: earwig drives the elephant mad, the human crushes the earwig, and the elephant crushes the human. Some versions boast 101 gestures and a staggering 5,050 possible outcomes. The World RPS Society even tracks official tournaments, though the true origin of the name “Rochambeau” remains a mystery.
9 OK Sign
The ubiquitous “OK” gesture hides a tangled past. One theory points to the 1830s era of comic misspellings, where “OK” stood for “Oll Korrect,” a playful take on “all correct.” Another story links it to President Martin Van Buren, nicknamed “Old Kinderhook,” whose campaign slogan morphed into the hand sign. Some argue French soldiers in the American Revolution invited girls to meet them “aux kayes” (the docks), birthing the gesture. A handwriting mishap may have turned an intended “OR” (order received) into the familiar circle‑and‑finger shape. Even railroad agent Obadiah Kelley’s initials (OK) may have helped popularize it.
10 Christmas Symbols
Most scholars agree that Jesus was likely born in spring, yet we celebrate his nativity in winter. Pope Gregory VII merged existing pagan winter festivals with Christianity, allowing evergreen trees—symbols of hope and renewal—to become seasonal fixtures. Martin Luther, walking home one night, saw stars glimmer through fir branches and recreated the effect by placing candles on an evergreen, birthing the modern Christmas tree in the 16th century. Early English‑speaking Christians shunned trees as pagan, but Pennsylvania Germans popularized them in America during the 1820s, and the custom spread nationwide.
St Nicholas, a 4th‑century Turkish bishop known for generosity, attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. His name evolved from “St Nikolaas” to “Sinterklaas” and finally “Santa Claus.” Candy canes began as shepherds’ staffs in the 1700s, later reshaped into a Christian emblem. Holly represents Christ’s crown of thorns. Gift‑giving mirrors the Magi’s offerings, carols echo angelic hymns, and the star atop the tree recalls the celestial beacon that heralded Christ’s birth. The “X” in “X‑mas” isn’t a secular shortcut; it derives from the Greek letter chi, the first character of “Christ,” originally used to avoid over‑using the holy name.