Re: Another Happy Birthday!

Christophe Grandsire writes:
 >  As
 > > for replying to "happy birthday" in Vyh., I've not
 > > thought about it - I think "thanks" (Vyh. glhL) or
 > > "thank you" (Vyh. glhL-czosh) should be fine too, but
 > > I'll think about it.
 > >
 >
 > It could be an expression you *mustn't* answer to, like we have in theater in
 > France. When you want to wish good luck to an actor or a director before the
 > beginning of a theater play, you cannot use "good luck" ("bonne chance") since
 > it brings bad luck :)) (actors are quite superstitious when it comes to
 > acting :)) ). You have to say "Merde !" (yes indeed, you read me
 > correctly :)) ) and the person who receives the wish mustn't answer to it. Are
 > there other languages (nat- and/or con-) that also have insults promoted to
 > good wish interjections in some situations?

Well, in English you're supposed to tell actors to "break a leg",
in the same situation.  Of course, nearly everyone on the list will
know this, and half of them will answer...  You're not supposed to
mention the play _Macbeth_ around actors by name, either,
traditionally.  Maybe there's something about acting that encourages
this behaviour.

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