Title: The Evil Eye
General Information about Item:
- Customary Folklore: Greek Superstition (Bad luck)
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: Greece
- Informant: Evangelia Constantine
- Date Collected: November 2, 2018
Informant Data:
- Evangelia “Lia” Constantine is a sophomore studying Neuroscience at Dartmouth College. She is on the Dartmouth Field Hockey team and engaged in medical research with one of her professors. Lia was born in Fredericksburg Virginia, but her family is of strong Greek origin. Her father lived in Greece before coming to the United States, and her mother’s parents were both born and raised in Greece. As a child, her grandparents were extremely influential in instilling aspects of Greek folklore in her life. Her favorite Greek custom is the roasting of a goat on Easter Sunday. Her family practices many greek traditions on a daily and annual basis.
Contextual Data:
- Social Context: The informant was interviewed in person regarding the evil eye superstition. She said that she first learned the superstition from her grandmother who then passed the notion down to her mother and herself. It is commonly passed from older to younger generations. The evil eye can be placed upon someone by a stranger with good or bad intentions or upon oneself by looking in the mirror. The bad omen can be instilled accidentally or purposefully.
- Cultural Context: The bad omen surrounding the curse of the Evil eye is undoubtedly one of the most popular and commonly-practiced Greek superstitions. The origins of the Evil Eye date back to 100 AD with the works of Plutarch, a Greek biographer. He claims that the eyes are the primary source of the deadly spells cast by evil individuals. While Plutarch struggled to explain the phenomenon, Pliny the Elder stated that some individuals have the, “power of fascination with the eyes and can even kill those on whom they fix their gaze.” Today, the evil eye superstition exists in distinct variations across cultures, and it is common for believers to make efforts to protect themselves and their families against the curse.
Item:
- One is cursed with the Evil Eye as a result of another person’s stare, comments, or praises. It is most commonly placed upon someone through a malevolent glare; however, it is possible for an individual to curse himself by looking at his reflection or acting a certain way. The Evil Eye is thought to cause harm, misfortune, and bad luck.
Associated file (a video, audio, or image file):
Transcript of Associated File:
Informants Comments:
- “I don’t necessarily believe the superstition totally, but I definitely think about the evil eye when I see someone looking at me.”
Collector’s Comments:
- The superstition of the evil eye is the most common Greek superstition that is still believed and practiced today.
Collector’s Name: Kira Koehler
Tags/Keywords:
- Greek. Superstition. Evil Eye. Sign Superstition.