The evil eye is a superstitious belief that someone can harm others by looking at them. It originated in the Middle East, Mediterranean Europe, and South and Central Asia and is present in Islamic and Jewish traditions. Folk remedies and amulets are used for protection.
The evil eye is a superstitious belief that some people can cause harm to others by looking a certain way. The person who gives someone the evil eye may do so intentionally to cause harm, or unintentionally, due to a feeling of envy towards the person watching. The victim may suffer effects such as general bad luck, sickness, or even death.
The most common variant of the evil eye in folklore is that produced by the envious gaze. It is therefore a warning, both against the sin of envy and against that of excessive pride. The curse can be given not only to other people, but also to children, livestock and inanimate objects that look at each other with envy.
This belief originated in the Middle East, Mediterranean Europe, and South and Central Asia. It is present in both Islamic and Jewish traditions and has spread to Northern Europe and the Americas. In some areas, blue eyes are thought to be particularly prone to giving the evil eye. This may be because blue-eyed foreigners are likely to be unfamiliar with local customs and taboos regarding gazing at others or admiring others’ possessions or children.
Folk remedies against the effects of the evil eye abound. Kohl, one of the world’s oldest cosmetics, has been traditionally applied around the eyes of men, women and children in the Middle East for centuries as a form of protection. In India, for the same reason, a red pigment called kumkum is applied to the cheeks, and in Bangladesh, black dots are painted on the foreheads of children to avoid this. Many remedies involve burning specific substances and/or saying certain prayers.
Amulets are one of the most common protection against the evil eye. In ancient Rome, various phallic amulets and obscene hand gestures were believed to ward off the curse. Protective jewelry is especially common in Turkey, where the blue eye-like design is known as nazar. In the Middle East, an amulet known as the hamsa hand features an eye design and is said to protect the wearer. The hamsa hand is religiously significant to both Jews and Muslims.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
