Many of you know of this that I’m about to speak of.
Or is it that I’m about to write of?
Either way.
Me, I find this type of stuff fascinating.
I love finding out that something I do has historical meaning and has been handed down over the centuries.
Not that I would ever do “this”, because BigJimmy is a gentleman, both well mannered and above all the vulgarities that occur in today’s modern world.
*Side Note 1 – HA
I had started this post some time ago, but it got lost in the shuffle. Then I saw something about it the other day and once I got time to sit in front of my laptop, I wanted to bring it back and finish it.
You ever get mad at someone?
Someone that couldn’t hear you, but could see you?
You know, like in a car, and you get cut off and you want to gesture to the other driver?
What’s the one thing you do?
I’ll give you a few seconds to ponder …..’
Yup – you guessed it. After you get done cursing, or perhaps WHILE you are cursing, you hold up your middle finger to let them know you are thinking of them.
The One-Finger salute.
Giving someone “the bird”.
*Side Note 2 – hold that thought too.
Well, giving someone the middle finger goes back quite a ways in history.
Think back, remember how I introduced you to the origins of the phrase, “Bite me” in one of my very 1st posts?
I found that interesting.
But come back in time with me ……
*que the slow mesmerizing music and the swirlie screen ……
The year is 1415 and the French are preparing for battle against England in The Battle of Agincourt.
The French have a formidable force that they thought invincible and they anticipated a great victory. The English were well known for their superiority with the English Longbow, which was made from the native Yew tree.
So confident were the French in their victory that it became known to the British that upon capture the French intended to cut off the middle finger of every English soldier they captured so that they’d not be able to pull back on the bow and would be rendered useless on the battlefield.
But – it was not meant to be.
The French were soundly defeated by the English soldiers.
And to make sure the French knew they had been defeated and to rub it in their faces, the English soldiers began waving their middle fingers at the French and would say, “see, we can still pluck the Yew”, meaning they could still pull back on their longbow made of the wood from the Yew tree,
For the act of drawing back the bow to release the arrow became known as “Plucking the Yew”.
So the act of giving the middle finger was made with the intention of mocking someone that you had disrespect for, accompanied by the fact that you could still “Pluck the Yew”
No one knows how it became the calling card it has become today.
It is assumed that it was in American culture that the “plucking” got replaced with a word beginning with “F” and the “Yew” just became, well…. “you”.
But wait there’s more …..
It’s also widely believed that because the English put feathers on their arrows to help ensure that their flight was true, that this gesture became known as, “Giving the Bird”.
See, that’s why you visit this site – for historical knowledge.
For those that are nodding with agreement – “You’re welcome”
And for those scoffing me ….. “Pluck Yew”
Get it ?
My Take on Life and Events 