MAGIC WORDS Hugo, in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (18 1), claims that hax pax max isn't nonsense at all but rather "refers to medicine. [It is a] formula against the bite of mad dogs." Whatever its true origin, hocus pocus is certainly a contraction of hocus-pocus, tontus talontus, vade celeriter, jubeo, a phrase uttered by the court magician of King James (see the quotation from A Candle in the Dark, below). Facts: "Hocus pocus was originally an entertainer's phrase. Unlike abracadabra, it never appeared on amulets or in spell books."28 The phrase became synonymous for trick or deception in the seventeenth century29 and juggler in the eighteenth century. The contraction hocus is the source of the word hoax, coined in the late eighteenth century. 0 The contraction hocus combined with bunkum to create the word hokum. 1 Some etymologists argue that the card game "poker" derives its name from the contraction pocus. Hocus Pocus Junior is the name of an early "how-to" magic book published in 16 4. In 1584, Reginald Scot mentions hocus pocus as a magic word in his book The Discoverie of Witchcraft. 4 The theme song to the Candid Camera television series (1948) featured the words hocus pocus: "With a hocus-pocus, you're in focus. It's your lucky day. Smile! You're on Candid Camera." Common Magician's Applications: Changing. For example: "The magician urged the audience to shout out any magic words that they knew. Hocus Pocus became the audience's mantra. 'Help me do this trick by saying hocus-pocus on three,' the audience was urged. The trick failed. 'Hmmmm. Let's say it louder,' urged the magician. Shouts of 'Hocus Pocus' filled the air and the cane magically changed into two handkerchiefs." Restoration. For example: "The conjurer then says, 'I will now restore the string by saying a few magic words. However, while I do so, you must help me by pulling on both ends of the string. Are you ready? Pull. Hocus pocus, abracadabra, alakazam!' . . . When the conjurer removes his hand, the string is seen to be completely restored and will stand the closest examination." 28 Allan Zola Kronzek, The Sorcerer's Companion: A Guide to the Magical World of Harry Potter (2001) 29 Michael Quinion, "Hocus Pocus," WorldWideWords.com 0 Ibid. 1 H.L. Mencken, The American Language (1919) 2 Phil Gordon, Poker: The Real Deal (2004) Ibid. 4 John Granrose, The Archetype of the Magician (1996) 5 Lynne Ober, Pelham-Windham News (200 ) 6 Henning Nelms, Magic and Showmanship: A Handbook for Conjurers (1969)