What does this gesture with the thumb tucked between the fingers mean?

of keeping a familiar symbol close at hand.

Why did he disappear?

Because our communication has become digital: we say “no” with an emoji, we send a wink, a thumbs up, a heart. The fig hasn’t completely disappeared, but it survives mainly in memories, family anecdotes, and certain local traditions.

Yet, it remains a charming symbol: a silent message, a gentle refusal, a protective wink. A way to express what words don’t always dare to say, a discreet folk tradition that still survives. Today, it embodies an ancient gestural memory that continues to touch us with its simplicity.