• In Italy and some Mediterranean cultures, when confronted with unfortunate events, or simply when these events are mentioned, the sign of the horns may be given to ward off bad luck.
• It is also used traditionally to counter or ward off the “evil eye” (malocchio).
• With fingers down, it is a common apotropaic gesture, by which superstitious people seek protection in unlucky situations (It is a more Mediterranean equivalent of knocking on wood). Thus for example the President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone shocked the country when, while in Naples during an outbreak of cholera, he shook the hands of patients with one hand while with the other behind his back he made the corna.
• In Italy, one can also “touch iron” (tocca ferro) or touch one’s nose. Males in Italy and some other countries may grab their testicles when confronted by bad luck; however, this is considered more vulgar.
• In Italy, Greece and Spain, when directed towards someone, the sign implies cuckoldry; the common words for cuckolded in Italian, Greek and Spanish are cornuto, keratas (κερατάς) and cornudo respectively, literally “horned”.
• During the European Union meeting in February 2002, former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi was photographed performing this gesture behind the back of the Spanish foreign minister. When questioned about the incident, he replied “I was only joking.”

Now please enjoy your evening with something very very special from Hubble (Giuseppe Marchegiano). Cheers!