piangendo intorno al catafalco


was an old superstition to cry around the bed of the dead to exorcise his death

Or along these lines

I suppose they're Italian children - and also assumed classical gestures for warding off death - one could be grabbing their crotches (which could be to ward off any evil/negative/misfortune I suppose) -but decided on the more commonly understood, even out of Italy, makking of the horns gesture. It is not only used as the 'cuckhold' sign in Italy - but also to ward off evil. "But Dio explained that he was taught the so-called corna sign by his Italian grandmother, as a way to scare off the "evil eye", a look which is said to cause bad luck. It's like knocking on wood for superstitious purposes (more on this below). "