Testify!

[pallas_athena]

John Kelly's Voxford is the blog of an American journalist living in Oxford. It features gargoyles, spats with the Daily Mail and general bemusement with British life.

If not for him, I never would have known that Italian men are no longer permitted to ward off bad luck by touching their genitals in public.

This superstition, "Io mi tocco i..." seems vaguely equivalent to the British "touch wood" (no, really.) It's tempting to think that it may have its roots in the ancient Roman practice of grasping one's testicles to swear an oath, though some say the entire notion is bollocks.

In the words of Jo Brand: "I've done a bit of research and I've found that even today, if you grasp a man's testicles he will swear an oath."

Comments

[wolfinthewood.livejournal.com]

Another fine old custom bites the dust.

[justpolina.livejournal.com]

I can wholeheartedly support Ms Brand's research....

[artnouveauho.livejournal.com]

Now that the legal precedent's been set, I bet more rebellious young men will start doing it.

[albertbbun.livejournal.com]

I'm confused. How "public" are these genitals? Otherwise, wouldn't a guy just cop to adjusting his "wedding tackle" (as they say downunder) instead. Surely that can't be outlawed or baseball would be history.

[artnouveauho.livejournal.com]

My dear! **enormous hug** I've been thinking of you both.

It's true, the crotch-grab is a time-honoured baseball strategy. There is also never a production of King Lear without at least one crotch-grab. True.