Watching today’s USA vs. Mexico World Cup game, I noticed that the Mexican fans and even players elbowed each other during their national anthem. Now, the way they hold their arms during the song (horizontally over the chest, elbows out) seems to invite this, but is there some deeper signifigance?
I found the following information (admittedly just through a quick search in http://mx.yahoo.com/) here:
Which loosely translates as:
Nothing about elbowing. Indeed, all the stuff about silence, respect, and remaining in position would seem to suggest the opposite. Perhaps they were just eagar to start the game.
Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I will be along soon.
On further research, this should actually be “uncover your head,” as in take off your cap.
My bad.
I didn’t notice the players doing it, but it looked like a number of the fans elbowing each other were doing it because they saw themselves or their friends on the screen. A few even seemed a little annoyed to be disturbed during the anthem.
I believe “the elbowing” you saw was just the Mexican fans putting their arms into the proper saluting position that is used in Mexico.
I’ve always seen Mexicans standing with their right arm held at chest level bent at a 90 degree angle.
That’s probably not a great description. If you’re an American football fan, think of them standing and giving the signal for “illegal motion”.