Evil Eye

This is a typical item, a specialty of this region you should take home as a souvenir. It's called the Boncuk, the Little Magic Stone that protects one from the "Evil Eye" (pronounced "bon-dschuk"). http://www.forteantimes.com/articles/160/eye.jpg You will see this blue glass piece everywhere here in this area. But what is behind this superstition?
In a shortened version we will try to explain. Once upon a time (yes, it starts like in a fairy tale) there was a rock by the sea that, even with the force of a hundred men and a lot of dynamite, couldn't be moved or cracked. There was also a man in this town by the sea, who was known to carry the evil eye (Nazar). After much effort and endeavor, the town people brought the man to the rock, and the man, upon looking at the rock said, "My! What a big rock this is." The instant he said this, there was a rip and roar and crack and instantly the immense and impossible rock was found to be cracked in two.
The force of the evil eye (or Nazar) is a widely accepted and feared random element in Turkish daily life. The word "Nazar" denotes seeing or looking and is often used in literally translated phrases such as "Nazar touched her," in reference to a young woman, for example, who mysteriously goes blind.
Another typical scenario. A woman gives birth to a healthy child with pink cheeks, all the neighbors come and see the baby. They shower the baby with compliments, commentating especially on how healthy and chubby the baby is. After getting so much attention weeks later the baby is found dead in his crib. No explanation can be found for the death. It is ascribed to Nazar. Compliments made to a specific body part can result in Nazar. That's why nearly every Turkish mother fixes with a safety pin a small Boncuk on the child's clothes. Once a Boncuk is found cracked, it means it has done his job and immediately a new one has to replace

My Greek uncle gave me a nazar when i was born It's really a beautiful one, bright blue set in gold. I hope to get a beautiful Turkish one too I wear it when i feel like i need it. For example, when i went into the plane i put it on and with exams i wear it too. Usually i actually dont 'believe' in those things, but it just makes me feel safe for some weird reason. Maybe because its origin is in turkey

When i was in Türkiye, Kadir's teyze said to him "Don't take her to your classes", and he said she referred to the Nazar. I think that was quite a compliment though i didn't understand entirely.

I love these cultural things in Türkiye, and i am glad you are sharing those things with us lately, Janissary!

When my son was born ALL the Turkish people here bought him one. His clothes and pram and bed etc were covered in them. ; )

I have one in my car - is that appropriate?

yes i would think that it would be ok to have one in your car,i mean they say it works as a sort of lucky charm or to protect you from bad things so its probably a good idea to have one.you wanna be safe when you drive!

I have them all over the place,pretty much every key ring i have is an evil eye or a turkish flag and i have so many key rings,with only 2 keys.anyway i doesnt matter because when i am in turkey i can't help myself i just keep buying them.I also have lots of jewellery with them on,i wear them for good luck,like in exams and things! hope they work...i love them even if they don't.

we have the same habbit here in libya but in little different way, i remember that boy that used to live the next door became a blind when an old women looked at his green eyes and said(oh you were a baby a few years ago and now you are a young man), he stayed blind for the whole day until his mother went to the old women's house and asked her daughters for a fiber from thier mothers clothes and after she got one she burned in a little fire ,after that the boy was cured immediatelly.

The 'Evil Eye' is a superstition known in many cultures, including the Anatolian culture. It is widely believed that if one person gives another a hateful look, he or she may become ill or die from its negative effects. The strength behind the evil look is the 'evil eye'. This belief streches back to the pre-Christian era.
Among those who believe in this traditional superstition, the main reason behind the evil eye is a person's extreme feel of envy. However, it is also held that when a person is admired too much or is loved too extremely, the evil eye may strike…
Amulets, which are worn to repel the evil eye are known as a repellent talisman or apotropaic charm. In Greece and Turkey, the most common form of apotropaic charm is “Nazar Boncuğu”, the blue glass eye charm, which mirrors back the blue of the evil eye and thus confounds it.
It is also believed that the evil eye affect not only the humans, but it can also affect plants, animals, and homes so the blue bead is used to protect these as well.

Belief in the effects of the eye, or more correctly the glance or stare of envy and malice, are probably the oldest and widespread belief throughout the world. The earliest written references to the 'evil eye' occur on Sumerian clay tablets dating to the third millennium BC. Agate beads of exceptional quality, worn to protect the wearer from the influence of the evil eye were also discovered in the royal Sumerian graves at Ur.
To show the universality of the belief in the eye, we need only to look at just some of the names given to this phenomenon:
Turkish: ‘Nazar’ or ‘Kem Goz’
Roman: Oculus Malus
Greek: Baskania
Italian: Mallochio or La Jettatura
German: Bose Blick
Spanish: Mal Ojo
French: Mauvis Oeil
Indian: Drishtidosham (Third Eye of Budda)
Irish: Droch-shuil
Hebrew: Ayin Horea
Arabic: Ayin Harsha
Egyptian: Eye of Horus
Mexican: Ojo De Venado
English: Evil Eye, All-Seeing Eye, Evil Eye Protector

Sources:
http://bornova.ege.edu.tr/~ncyprus/boncuk.html
http://www.treasuresbytasci.com/Scripts/infoCenter.asp

Excellent articles about Nazar Boncuğu you can read here:
http://www.turkeyforyou.com/travel_turkey_evil_eye
http://www.turkeyforyou.com/turkey_evil_eye_origins
http://www.turkeyforyou.com/turkey_evil_eye_powers

The 'Evil Eye' is a superstition known in many cultures, including the Anatolian culture. It is widely believed that if one person gives another a hateful look, he or she may become ill or die from its negative effects. The strength behind the evil look is the 'evil eye'. This belief streches back to the pre-Christian era.


I dont agree with you. becouse evil eye is not related with a hateful look. in anatolia and in our culture it s believed that if someone has something special (son, daugher, a beautiful eye, an expensive car etc.) that others havent. and if someone looks at it with jealously or willingly, it s affected. that's why ppl say "masallah" for to protect it or hang blue bead. and if you see a beatiful thing, u should say "masallah, what a nice..."

especially in my area, old people believe that blue eyed ppl are more dangerous

Hello, Janissary
First of all, I’m using the opportunity to thank you for your interesting, informative and useful posts. Reading them, we have learnt much about Turkey, its culture, customs - which is actually one of the purposes of this website. If I may ask, please continue posting such valuable pieces

thank you slavica:

I would like ppl use this site to learn turkish and learn something about our culture. not only for some translations. we have a rich culture. I try to share these sometimes

I am slightly confused about the blue eye theory as I have blue eyes, albeit they are very dark (not bright blue). I was told by a Turkish man that I had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen and that they would bring him luck. I have had people in Turkish restaurant comment on my eyes too!!

I meant light blue eyes. if you say masallah, no problem

OK i got you - so eyes that are a bit like goats eyes then, that light blue but they look see through!!

I read it about the jealousy as well I think giving someone an evil eye as a present is actually somethin really friendly and caring!! Im not sure if do believe in such powers, but for example, i always take a catholic cross with me. I am nto religious at all myself, but the catholic friend who gave it to me, is. So the power and feeling of safety i find in it, is based on friendship. I think thats something really beautiful./

I still have the hope that kadir will buy me a beautiful nazar one day

May i add that the english word for 'evil eye' only is a name to describe the Turkish nazar, not because it's a tradition/culture thing of England itself The same goes for France probably. Still thanks for all the information, tht's how we learn

I want to underline that some words in turkish have not a equivalent word in english. nazar is special to turkish culture and there is unique meaning in it. for this reason most of turkish people who believe it s superstition or not,often use "masallah" said for to protect from evil eye.

Hi, Janiss!
Thank you very much for your interesting stories, I read them with pleasure.
In Bulgaria we also believe in "evil eyes", especialy for babyes and small kids. When we came back home after a walk, we have the habit of wash our kid's eyes with water, to clean the negative energy that they took during the walk, especialy if we have met the childless woman. Also we put on baby's wrist or neck blue bead, in purpose to neutralize "evil eyes". We have the habit to say "phy-phy, mashallah" when we see nice child and don't want to cause him/her illness.