Single moutza.
Double moutza.
People giving moutzas to the Greek parliament during the Indignant Citizens Movement. Lower left, see double moutza, lower middle, see single moutza

A mountza or moutza (Greek: μούντζα or μούτζα [ˈmud͡za]) also called faskeloma (Greek: φασκέλωμα [faˈskeloma]) is the most traditional gesture of insult among Greeks. It consists of extending and spreading all fingers of the hand and presenting the palm towards the face of the person to be insulted with a forward motion.

It is often coupled with να (na, "here"), ορίστε (oríste, "there you are"), or πάρτα (par'ta, "take these") and swear words. The closer the gesture is to the other person's face the more intense it is considered.

An even more offensive version is achieved by using both hands to double the gesture, smacking the palm of one hand against the back of the other in the direction of the intended recipient.[1]

When Greeks hand-signal the number 5 to someone they take care not to overextend the fingers or face their palm towards the person, lest it be mistaken for a mountza.

Origin

The origin of the gesture can be traced back to the ancient years, when it was used as a curse. It is said that even during the Eleusinian Mysteries it complemented verbal curses against evil forces.[2] The ancient name φασκέλωμα (faskéloma), alongside its variant φάσκελo (fáskelo), survives to this day as a synonym.[2]

In later years, the name changed to mountza. In the penal code of the Byzantine Empire one punishment entailed criminals paraded around town sitting backwards on a donkey with their face smeared with cinder (μούντζος, moútzos) to enhance their ridicule.[3][4]

Because cinder was wiped on the person's face first by collecting it in the palm and then by extending open the fingers, the gesture itself became insulting, to be known as mountza, after the name of the material applied.[3][4] The modern Greek word mountzoura (μουντζούρα) or moutzoura (μουτζούρα) for a smudge, scribble or dark stain has the same origin.[5]

Around the world

The gesture of mountza does not have the same significance in other cultures around the world. In a few countries there are similar gestures. Their significances are:

References

  1. ^ This can be seen at 0:26 in an advertisement for Aegean Airlines.
  2. ^ a b Carr, Effie (2018-09-01). Stamatia X. Primer Fiction. ISBN 978-1-925283-71-6.
  3. ^ a b "Throwing the Na! ⋆ Cosmos Philly". Cosmos Philly. 2013-01-13. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  4. ^ a b I., KOUKOULES, Phaidon (1948–1955). Βυζαντινων βιος και πολιτισμος. (Vie et civilisation byzantines.) [With plates.] Gr. OCLC 560571773.((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "μούντζα - Βικιλεξικό". el.wiktionary.org (in Greek). Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  6. ^ "Kass: Nah! Chicago". Chicago Tribune. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2013-10-06.

Bibliography