Wherever you look in Turkey, you'll notice blue eyes every where. You'll see the blue-eyed bead on jewelry, a blue-eyed bead pinned on a baby's top, a blue-eyed plaque hanging above the entrance of a building or an amulet dangling from a rearview mirror. It is believed that the evil eye bead brings luck and protection. If you live here for any length of time you will receive the blue-eyed bead as a gift from friends and businesses. It comes in all shapes and sizes! It is common in Turkish culture to give a gift of the evil-eye bead (“Nazar boncuk” or just nazar) to friends. However, some are not so keen to receive it.
Here are a couple of letters from Today's Zaman readers:
Dear Charlotte: It disturbs me that people think that there is special power in the evil eye and that the supposed or real envy associated with the belief in evil eyes can harm. This puts me in an awkward position, as this is a popular gift item that my foreign friends like to buy as souvenirs and that my Turkish friends like to give to me. How do you think I should handle this? From: Dorothy (Bebek)
Dear Dorothy: Some people just enjoy the bead for its beauty and sentimental values and do not give it any more thought than that! But that's not to say that there aren't many people who believe the bead has protective powers. To not offend your friend who gives you the gift, graciously receive the gift and thank her for her thoughtfulness. Later, just give it to someone who would appreciate it or do as you wish. If you think you really must say something, say it in a loving and inoffensive way.
For centuries, especially in Europe the evil eye was well-known. In Helmut Schoeck's article entitled “The Evil Eye: Forms and Dynamics of a Universal Superstition” (the original article can be found at: http://plaza.ufl.edu/alym1007/evileye.html), Schoeck explains that the idea of the evil eye is a universal phenomenon, noting that “the French call it ‘mauvais oeil,' the Germans ‘bose Blick' and the Italians ‘malocchio,' and it is given a religious basis for reality in the Bible, which states, ‘Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye' [Proverbs 26:3].”
Dear Charlotte: I've noticed that quite often when I do not give a beggar what they want, they seem to mumble some words which sound like they are saying a curse. I do not fear such curses but it intrigues me that one minute they behave so sweetly and then turn on the person who does not give them a hand-out. If someone is not protected from curses, what remedy or cure is there for them? From: Gretchen (Istanbul)
Dear Gretchen: I've noticed that! It all boils down to envy. You can trace the evil eye superstition back to centuries ago and societies around the world who have associated the phenomenon with human envy. For those of us who have been resident in this part of the world for a number of years, through our day-to-day contact with friends and colleagues who may have the blue eye pinned on their baby or dangling from the review car mirror we realize it is believed to protect people from harm. Schoeck points out that the malicious force or power associated with curse may be male or female and the envious one is usually elderly, a stranger and may be physically impaired. Your gut feeling is right!
I noticed the other day, just as babies have the blue eye pinned on a piece of clothing or the house has a blue-eyed plaque on the wall above the main entrance, these days some dog owners even have dog collars decorated with a stone in the shape of the blue-eye.
Many of you may think it best not to give to beggars, as it may encourage them to continue to beg, but on the other hand if you don't harm may come your way. The Turks have a saying: “God forbid!” (Allah Korusun!”)
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; this is the principal difference between a dog and a man." -- Mark Twain
Note: Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey, 2005.” Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman’s readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
