Random Evil Eyes Can Actually Curse You (12 items)

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  (#9) The Hamsa Can Help Protect You

  The hamsa, also known as the Hand of Fatima, Hand of Miriam, or Hand of God, displays the evil eye on the palm. This popular symbol, often used in jewelry or amulets, is one of the most popular and simple ways to protect yourself from the curse of the evil eye. It's most popular in the Middle East and Africa, and appears frequently in Judaism and Islam. It's even one of the national symbols of Algeria. 

  The first known use of the hamsa was by the Phoenicians, a civilization that ended about 300 years before the common era. They saw it as a representation of the hand of Tanit, the patron goddess of the Phoenicians' capital city, Carthage. It then spread to Judaism, where it became known as the Hand of Miriam, named after the sister of Moses. In Islam, it became the Hand of Fatima, named after the daughter of Muhammad.
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  (#3) You Could Be Cursing Someone Without Even Knowing It

  Unfortunately, someone could accidentally curse you without meaning to or without even knowing they've done it, and legends tell that people have gone to extreme lengths to prevent doing so. One Polish tale recounts how a man was so prone to cursing others that he cut out his eyes. 

  Since Hindus believe that women most often give the evil eye, women will go so far as to paint their eyelids black not only to protect themselves, but also prevent themselves from cursing another. 

  Two popes, Leo XIII and Pius IX, were believed to have been born with the evil eye. 
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  (#6) The Curse Isn't As Common In The US As In Other Cultures

  Though it's relatively common to see the evil eye appear in fashion or jewelry, the cultural significance of the evil eye (and its curse) is simply not as prevalent in the US as it is in so many other cultures worldwide. And it has nothing, or at least very little, to do with religion - it's because of the American culture of excess. 

  In ancient societies, the concept that there was never enough of everything to go around - be it food, resources, and the like - was highly prevalent. So, if you were complimenting someone on what they had (e.g. good crops or healthy children), it meant that you were in some way jealous and wanted those things for yourself. Hence, praise and the evil eye became deeply intertwined.

  But that's simply not how Americans operate. As anthropologist Alan Dundes pointed out, Americans "go all over the world praising things and scaring people to death." But in America, literally known as the "Land of Plenty," complimenting someone has rarely been associated with envy or evil.
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  (#2) The Curse Has Been Known To Have Actual Physical Symptoms

  The thing about curses is that nearly anything negative can be attributed to them, and this holds true with the evil eye as well. People who are known to have been cursed by the evil eye can experience a decrease in appetite, vomiting, fever, hiccups, and - strangely enough - excessive yawning. They may also have insomnia, exhaustion, depression, or diarrhea. 

  Since the evil eye can curse both objects and animals, not just people, there are symptoms that extend beyond the physical that can indicate the presence of a curse. A cursed cow may stop producing milk, and a cursed plant or tree may stop bearing fruit. A cursed vehicle could stop working, and a cursed house could suddenly get termites. 
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  (#7) Historically, Certain Individuals Have Been Believed To Carry The Curse

  If you're worried about being cursed by the evil eye, people from certain cultures would suggest that you watch out for or avoid specific individuals. People who are cross-eyed, have a squint or lazy eye, or have an eye that twitches have been believed to be more prone to cursing others. Someone with close-set eyes, or eyes that are two different colors or rare colors, have also been believed to be more likely to transmit the curse.

  For many Europeans, jealous glances - and witches - were often blamed for the evil eye. And in Germany, anyone with red eyes might be suspected of cursing others; likewise, the Irish were afraid of squinty eyes. But perhaps the strangest physical characteristic attributed to the evil eye was the unibrow, courtesy of superstitious individuals in Italy. So, if you've got a unibrow, you may want to pluck it before heading to Italy! 
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  (#11) The Evil Eye Is Making a Comeback In Greece Because Of The Economic Crisis

  Though the evil eye and its amulets have always been prevalent in Greek culture, some say that the symbol has become even more popular recently due to the economic crisis in Greece. 

  According to a 2017 poll, nearly 25 perfect of Greeks are unemployed, and about half of young Greeks are unemployed. The severe economic downturn, which has been unrelenting, causes people to look toward tradition for guidance. Nadina Christopoulou, a Greek anthropologist, says that Greeks find meaning in ancient beliefs such as the evil eye because it "gives you a sense that you can somehow control the reasons that create stress and anxiety." Christopoulou's mother says that she gets the evil eye multiple times a day and completes a "purging ritual" to get rid of the curse. Her mother blames the recurring curse on the fact that she can no longer give as freely as she used to since money and resources are tighter.

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