The Hamsa hand with the fingers pointed down symbolizes God's goodness and blessings coming down to the wearer or to the room where it is hung.
The hamsa hand is identified by many names—hamsa, hamsa hand, hamesh, hamesh hand, khamsa, and chamsa. It is also called the Hand of Miriam, named for Aaron and Moses’s sister.
There are two chief styles of a hamsa hand: the most widely held is the stylized hamsa hand with two symmetrical thumbs, however there are also hamsa hands that are not symmetrical and shaped like actual hands.
The word “hamesh” or “hamsa” means five. There are 5 digits on the hamsa hand, however the number 5 has additional symbolic meaning in the Jewish and Islamic traditions. Five (hamesh in Hebrew) signifies the five books of the Torah for Jews. It also represents the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, "Heh", which represents one of God’s holy names. It signifies the Five Pillars of Islam for Sunnis, and the Five People of the Cloak for Shi'ites.
Making yourself understood abroad can sometimes play out like an embarrassing game of charades. What may seem like an innocent gesture here could have a completely different -- and possibly obscene -- meaning in another country. And to help you avoid offending anyone and/or getting yourself punched in the face, here are nine gestures to steer clear of at Thrillist.com.