The Evil eye.The concept is that if you have something that someone might envy. You are in danger of having a curse of ill-will on you. Albanian's are very fearful of this and have many ways of warding off this curse. They might have something like these eye beads. They might put a stuffed animal, flag, garlic or a ram's horn up. This is supposed to lure the evil eye away because it draws it to those things instead. They are also careful about complimenting someone or appreciating somebody's things too much. You don't want to inadvertently put the evil eye on
someone or be blamed for bad things happening in other people's lives.In America I think it might correlate it to our expression, knock on wood. The feeling that somehow if we admit that we are doing well, or that we are really happy, or that we like something too much that somehow it's going to taken away from us. If it's too good to be true, it is.
A stuffed person, chicken head and garlic put up to protect new construction from the evil eye.
7 comments:
Very interesting writing. I saw that at my Muslim friends too. Not that they use objects to lure the evil eye but things that they hide a woman's pregnancy from public as long as possible, so baby and mother will not be subjects of bad wish until they are strong enough, or that was my understanding. Also, they avoid to say nice things about someone in his/her presence, and are embarrassed when they are said nice things about face to face. It was so strange to me at first but finally understood the wisdom in it.
I like the pictures too.
Aaahhhh! Good to see you again! Well, to see evidence of you anyways! :D Glad you don't have the evil eye! Ha! Was that Hand sculpture also to ward off evil? Interesting, but sad that they don't know how wonderful & all powerful Jesus is and how powerless objects are. I am so glad to know that in this day and age of crumbling or nonexistent morals, and growing economic distress and worldwide corruption, a day of such uncertainty and, yes, fear, well, I'm just glad to know that Jesus is my God. He is my insurance, my strong tower of refuge, and I need not be afraid.
Love you guys,
I love these eye beads and macrame. The colors are great. I remember those grandma ladies coming up to your little girls, pinching their cheeks and saying "Mashala mashala mashala"... old superstitions linger on. What a great informative post. I wouldn't mind having some of those little beads...but only because I think they are so pretty.
Whose big hand is that, knocking on wood?
Birthday month for Dave - another year older and deeper in debt...
ps: The chicken head is gross.
They did that in Turkey also. You couldn't compliment a baby for fear of bringing evil on it. Although they didn't really have eye thing everywhere. :)
Actually, most of the bead pictures came from Turkey. I don't know if they really have them all over their houses, but they were all over the tourist areas.
I live some of the time in Turkey. I have these everywhere, just in case, I'm a belt and braces kinda gal
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