The Greek Evil Eye

What is the meaning of the Greek Evil Eye??

Since I became a member of the Makrogiannis Family I have been introduced to the concept of the Greek Evil Eye or “Matiasma”. The Greek traditional belief of the evil eye is an ancient superstition in many cultures around the Mediterranean Sea dating back to Ancient times. It is deeply ingrained among Greek people who are both very religious and superstitious.  It is believed that the evil eye can strike anyone at any given moment. The Evil Eye is the belief that someone can catch the evil eye curse or Matiasma from someone else’s  jealous compliment or envy. If a person has caught the evil eye they will usually feel bad physically or mentally. Or in simple terms bad things happen. For example, perhaps there was an occasion that you were dressed up and someone told you that you looked nice. A few minutes later you spilled coffee down the front of yourself. Or maybe someone commented on how beautiful your new vase was and a while later it fell to the ground shattering into a thousand pieces. Greeks also believe that children are especially vulnerable to the evil eye and that it can cause hurt, illness and  even death in children. When babies are born Greeks place an evil eye bracelet around the wrist of the newborn immediately after birth. And if you come down with sudden horrible headaches, weakness or illness but you can’t find logical explanation for your strange state….Greeks will say you have been evil eyed or “Matiasmenos”.  This is the belief of the evil eye in simple terms.

So you have been affected by the evil eye, now what?? In every Greek home there are Greek blue eye charms everywhere. I myself have many. They are beautiful and for a long while I just thought they were a nice Greek trinket that everyone gives us as gifts. What I didn’t understand was the deep rooted belief in the evil eye and that giving a gift of a Blue Greek Eye was a true symbol of love and protection towards another person or family. So, following Greek tradition, the blue eyes are placed all over the house, every room, near every bed. When I travel with the children, each child is pinned with a evil eye charm for their protection during travel. 

Generally speaking, the Greek Eye charms are placed in homes, offices, cars, schools, on your clothing, on your body to protect yourself from the evil eye. The eye is said to reflect the evil around you. The color blue is also said to be a color that protects against evil. The charms come in the form of decorative wall hangings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, kolomboi worry beads carried by most Greek men, wall art, pillows, etc. 

Other ways to get rid of the evil eye is to consult with usually a Greek grandparent who knows the exorcising prayers to relieve you. The Greek evil eyes is cast away through the process of Xematiasma. First the healer says the prayer with mention of your name. Then they take a deep dish full of water and let a drop of olive oil fall into the water, performing the sign of the cross three times and spits in the air three times. Another way to ward off the evil eye is spitting. Spitting it is believed to chase away the evil and misfortune. For example, when someone talks about bad news (deaths, accidents, etc), the others listening to the news should slightly spit three times saying “ftou ftou ftou”.  Another example regarding spitting is that when someone compliments your baby or child or even an adult for their beauty, successes or fortunes, that person giving the compliments must also spit three times on the complimented person so that he doesn’t give him the evil eye and he is also reassuring the recipient of the compliment that they mean well in their compliments.

All this being said…………true belief or superstition?!?! The Greek Eyes are truly beautiful, so if having them in our life gives us a bit of extra protection, why not!!!!

It is in the “eye” of the beholder.