Author Archives: Carmen Braceras

Spitting to Keep the Devil Away

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Title: Spitting to Keep the Devil Away

General Information about Item:

  • Genre and Sub Genre: Customary Folklore– Superstition
  • Language: English
  • Country where Item is from: Greece

Informant Data:

  • Vungelia Glyptis gave us this piece of folklore. She was a 2017 graduate of Dartmouth College. Both of her parents are Greek (from the island of Chios). Her maternal and paternal grandfathers are actually from the same village. Everyone in her house speaks Greek, but she usually speaks English with her parents. They follow very old-school customs and superstitions.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: Vungelia heard about this superstition from her distant aunts and uncles. One situation that this superstition would be used in is at weddings as a way to prevent the new bride and groom from harm.
  • Cultural Context: The idea of the devil stems from the Greek Orthodox religion. It is very common in Greek culture to perform actions to try to prevent harm and keep the devil away.

Item:

  • The superstition is that if you spit on people, the devil will stay away from them. This is a magic superstition (If you do A, then B).

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file):

  • None

Transcript of Associated File:

  • None

Informant’s Comments:

  • None

Collector’s Comments:

  • We performed this interview over FaceTime, as Vungelia was not accessible in person.

Collector’s Name: Carmen Braceras

Tags/Keywords:

  • Spit, Devil, Greek Superstition, Customary Folklore, Magic Superstition, Wedding

Evil Eye Prevention

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Title: Evil Eye Prevention

General Information about Item:

  • Genre and Sub Genre: Customary Folklore– Superstition
  • Language: English
  • Country where Item is from: Greece

Informant Data:

Three different informants provided us with this same piece of folklore:

    • Judith Varlamos is from Seattle, WA. Her mom is from Karpenisi in Central Greece, and she still has relatives who live in Greece. Her husband also speaks fluent Greek, and they follow many Greek customs. They are also practicing Greek Orthodox Christians. They own a Greek pizza place in the neighborhood.
    • Mary Wallenmeyer is a 55 year-old woman from Shermans Dale, PA. Both of her parents, her two sisters, and her one brother were born in Greece. Her parents were raised in a small village in the mountains of central Greece. Her father came to the U.S. first and worked for two years so he could bring the rest of the family to America. She was born a year after her parents were reunited in the U.S., and her younger brother was born seven years later. Her father and his siblings are deceased, but she still have cousins from his side of the family that live in Greece. Her mother has six siblings still living in Greece along with their families.  Growing up, Mary and her family spoke Greek at home and attended Greek classes. Her husband and children do not speak the language fluently, but they do understand some of it. Her family belongs to the Greek Orthodox church, which she says “ helps keep the ‘Greek’ alive in [their] lives.” Their family still prays in Greek and cooks many Greek foods. They are very proud of their Greek heritage.  
    • Lia Constantine is a ’21 Dartmouth student from Fredericksburg, Virginia. Her Greek heritage is very much part of her identity. She relates to the family in the movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” in a lot of ways. It is also something she has grown up with and that her parents and grandparents are very proud of, so she has inherited that pride. Both her parents are 100% Greek. They were both born in the U.S., but her dad lived in Greece for a period of time.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: These charms are worn by many Greek people to prevent the Evil Eye. Such charms are commonly given as gifts to family members, especially to newborn babies.
  • Cultural Context: The Evil Eye is recognized by the church as a legitimate religious phenomena. It is believed that evil is generated by the devil. This belief serves as an explanation for bad things that occur, especially illnesses or pain. Special jewelry/ charms serve as an apotropaic (method of turning away evil).

Item:

  • The superstition is that If you wear a special charm (“philacto”), you will be protected from the Evil Eye. This is an example of a magic superstition (If you do A, then B). 

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file):

Segment of Interview with Lia Constantine

Charms worn to prevent the Evil Eye

 

Transcript of Associated File:

Transcript of video:

    • Lia: My mom is superstitious about the Evil Eye so she always gets us little Evil Eye things or puts it in her car and stuff like that so I guess I don’t really believe that but they do…

Informant’s Comments:

  • None

Collector’s Comments:

  • Lia was interviewed in person (as seen in the video). Mary and Judith were interviewed over FaceTime, as they do not live nearby.

Collector’s Name: Interviews conducted by Jess Valvano (Lia), Katie Spanos (Mary), and Ellen Pattinson (Judith). Webpage published by Carmen Braceras.

Tags/Keywords:

  • Evil Eye, Customary Folklore, Greek Superstitions, Charms, Jewelry, Philacto, Apotropaic

Evil Eye Cure

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Title: Evil Eye Cure

General Information about Item:

  • Genre and Sub Genre: Customary Folklore– Superstition
  • Language: English
  • Country where Item is from: Greece

Informant Data:

  • Mary Wallenmeyer provided us with this piece of folklore. She is a 55 year-old woman from Shermans Dale, PA. Both of her parents, her two sisters, and her one brother were born in Greece. Her parents were raised in a small village in the mountains of central Greece. Her father came to the U.S. first and worked for two years so he could bring the rest of the family to America. She was born a year after her parents were reunited in the U.S., and her younger brother was born seven years later. Her father and his siblings are deceased, but she still have cousins from his side of the family that live in Greece. Her mother has six siblings still living in Greece along with their families.  Growing up, Mary and her family spoke Greek at home and attended Greek classes. Her husband and children do not speak the language fluently, but they do understand some of it. Her family belongs to the Greek Orthodox church, which she says “ helps keep the ‘Greek’ alive in [their] lives.” Their family still prays in Greek and cooks many Greek foods. They are very proud of their Greek heritage.  

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: This practice is used in people’s homes to cure people affect by the evil eye eye. The process can only be conducted by a “trained” individual.
  • Cultural Context: The Evil Eye is recognized by the church as a legitimate religious phenomena. It is believed that evil is generated by the devil. This belief serves as an explanation for bad things that occur, especially illnesses or pain.

Item:

  • The superstition is that if a trained person says prayers over clothing of the affected, then they will be cured. This is a magic superstition (If you do A, then B) and is also an example of contagious magic.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file):

  • None

Transcript of Associated File:

  • None

Informant’s Comments:

  • None.

Collector’s Comments:

  • This interview was conducted over FaceTime, as Mary does not live nearby.

Collector’s Name: Interview conducted by Katie Spanos. Webpage published by Carmen Braceras.

Tags/Keywords:

  • Evil Eye, Cure, Contagious Magic, Greek Superstitions, Clothing, Prayers, Customary Folklore

Indicator of the Evil Eye

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Title: Indicator of the Evil Eye

General Information about Item:

  • Genre and Sub Genre: Customary Folklore– Superstition
  • Language: English
  • Country where Item is from: Greece

Informant Data:

  • Billy Kosmidis provided us with this piece of folklore. He is a ’19 student at Dartmouth College and lives in Chicago. Both of his parents parents were born in Greece. His mom was born in Tripoli, in the Peloponnesian Peninsula in southern Greece. His father was born in a small town called Alexandria close to Thessaloniki, in northern Greece (historically Macedonian area). All of his cousins, aunts, and grandma live in Greece, and everyone in his family speaks Greek. Billy and his older brother grew up bilingual and were the first two in their family born in America. In his house, they follow many Greek customs and constantly switch between speaking English and Greek based on the topic of conversation or who they are talking to (his dad only speaks Greek to them for the most part). His grandmother spends half the year living in Tripoli and half the year living in Chicago with Billy and his family, so when she is around there is a peak in the number of Greek customs and traditions that are practiced in the house.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: This practice is used in people’s homes to find out if they are affected by the evil eye or not. The process is often conducted by a “trained” individual.
  • Cultural Context: The Evil Eye is recognized by the church as a legitimate religious phenomena. It is believed that evil is generated by the devil. This belief serves as an explanation for bad things that occur, especially illnesses or pain.

Item:

  • The superstition is that if oil mixes in a cup of water, then the person of question is okay, but if the oil spreads then the person is affected by the evil eye. This is a sign superstition (If A, then B).

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file):

  • None

Transcript of Associated File:

  • None

Informant’s Comments:

  • None

Collector’s Comments:

  • We FaceTimed Billy to interview him, as he is studying abroad right now.

Collector’s Name:  Interview conducted by Ellen Pattinson. Webpage published by Carmen Braceras.

Tags/Keywords:

  • Evil Eye, Oil, Water, Greek Superstitions, Customary Folklore

Evil Eye

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Title: Evil Eye

General Information about Item:

  • Genre and Sub Genre: Customary Folklore– Superstition
  • Language: English
  • Country where Item is from: Greece

Informant Data:

Multiple informants shared this piece of folklore with us. They are Billy Kosmidis, David Lilla, Vungelia Glyptis, Judith Varlamos, Mary Wallenmeyer, and Lia Constantine.

  • Billy Kosmidis is a ’19 student at Dartmouth College and lives in Chicago. Both of his parents parents were born in Greece. His mom was born in Tripoli, in the Peloponnesian Peninsula in southern Greece. His father was born in a small town called Alexandria close to Thessaloniki, in northern Greece (historically Macedonian area). All of his cousins, aunts, and grandma live in Greece, and everyone in his family speaks Greek. Billy and his older brother grew up bilingual and were the first two in their family born in America. In his house, they follow many Greek customs and constantly switch between speaking English and Greek based on the topic of conversation or who they are talking to (his dad only speaks Greek to them for the most part). His grandmother spends half the year living in Tripoli and half the year living in Chicago with Billy and his family, so when she is around there is a peak in the number of Greek customs and traditions that are practiced in the house.
  • David Lilla is a student at George Washington University in D.C. He is from Hummelstown, PA. His mother is Greek but his father is not. While no one in his direct speaks Greek, they have lots of extended family in Greece and they celebrate Greek holidays.
  • Vungelia Glyptis was a 2017 graduate of Dartmouth College. Both of her parents are Greek (from the island of Chios). Her maternal and paternal grandfathers are actually from the same village. Everyone in her house speaks Greek, but she usually speaks English with her parents. They follow very old-school customs and superstitions.
  • Judith Varlamos is from Seattle, WA. Her mom is from Karpenisi in Central Greece, and she still has relatives who live in Greece. Her husband also speaks fluent Greek, and they follow many Greek customs. They are also practicing Greek Orthodox Christians. They own a Greek pizza place in the neighborhood.
  • Mary Wallenmeyer is a 55 year-old woman from Shermans Dale, PA. Both of her parents, her two sisters, and her one brother were born in Greece. Her parents were raised in a small village in the mountains of central Greece. Her father came to the U.S. first and worked for two years so he could bring the rest of the family to America. She was born a year after her parents were reunited in the U.S., and her younger brother was born seven years later. Her father and his siblings are deceased, but she still have cousins from his side of the family that live in Greece. Her mother has six siblings still living in Greece along with their families.  Growing up, Mary and her family spoke Greek at home and attended Greek classes. Her husband and children do not speak the language fluently, but they do understand some of it. Her family belongs to the Greek Orthodox church, which she says “ helps keep the ‘Greek’ alive in [their] lives.” Their family still prays in Greek and cooks many Greek foods. They are very proud of their Greek heritage.  
  • Lia Constantine is a ’21 Dartmouth student from Fredericksburg, Virginia. Her Greek heritage is very much part of her identity. She relates to the family in the movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” in a lot of ways. It is also something she has grown up with and that her parents and grandparents are very proud of, so she has inherited that pride. Both her parents are 100% Greek. They were both born in the U.S., but her dad lived in Greece for a period of time.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: The Evil Eye can be given to people accidentally or on purpose. It can be given by strangers or “bad people.” People often aren’t aware of receiving the evil eye. This superstition is passed down from parents to their children. 
  • Cultural Context: The Evil Eye is recognized by the Greek Orthodox Church as a legitimate religious phenomena. It is said to be generated by the devil. It serves as an explanation for bad things that occur (especially illnesses or pain). 

Item:

  • The superstition is that if someone looks at you the wrong way, then you will have the Evil Eye. Side effects of the Evil Eye include: feeling ill, acting strange, crying, or feeling pain. This is an example of a sign superstition (If A, then B).

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file):

Segment of Interview with Lia Constantine

 

Transcript of Associated File:

    • Lia: My mom is superstitious about the Evil Eye so she always gets us little Evil Eye things or puts it in her car and stuff like that so I guess I don’t really believe that but they do… 

Informant’s Comments:

  • None

Collector’s Comments:

  • Lia Constantine was interviewed in person (as seen in the video). The others (Billy Kosmidis, David Lilla, Vungelia Glyptis, Judith Varlamos, and Mary Wallenmeyer) were interviewed over FaceTime due to their inaccessible location.

Collector’s Name: Interviews conducted by Carmen Braceras (Vungelia, David), Jess Valvano (Lia), Katie Spanos (Mary), and Ellen Pattinson (Judith, Billy). Webpage published by Carmen Braceras.

Tags/Keywords:

  • Evil Eye, Greek Superstitions, Greek Orthodox, Customary Folklore